Roy Jones first became involved with Music in Hospitals & Care when he was ScottishPower Foundation’s Community Manager for Wales and North West England. He has been volunteering with us since 2016.
“Being a volunteer ambassador has involved helping to raise awareness of the charity, fundraising and going along to live music. In the beginning I went to observe quite a few new musicians, which was really good. More recently I have attended community events such as for the Co-op Local Community Fund in Wrexham and Chester.
Whilst at the Scottish Power Foundation I also went to a few launch events for programmes they funded. I remember one in Newtown in Mid Wales specifically. There were quite a few people just sitting around in the room, their faces totally blank. But as soon as the musician started singing, it was as if a light had just been switched on.
One gentleman had previously been in a Male Voice Choir and suddenly he just burst into song. And that was the time I think it came home to me that music can open doors that have been shut for a long time. It was quite profound. And it may not have lasted for long, but in that moment they just came alive. That’s the real impact of Music in Hospitals & Care.”
Student Volunteering Week: Molly
It’s Student Volunteering Week, and we’re celebrating the important role student volunteers play in helping us share the joy of live music with communities across the UK.
Children’s Mental Health Week: Reuben’s Retreat
We’ve been sharing the joy of live music with children, their families and staff at Reuben’s Retreat in Glossop. The sessions are designed to soothe and support children with life limiting illnesses and offer an opportunity for families to connect with others who understand their experience.
Special live music for Burns Night
Burns Night celebrates the poems and songs of Scotland’s national bard Robert Burns and his lasting legacy. Our musician John Davidson is sharing two special live music experiences at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen to commemorate the day.