Our stories
People are at the heart of what we do. Discover some of our stories from across the UK to find out more about how people in health and care are benefitting from live music experiences.
Gordon first began going to The Friendship Cabin in Fife in August 2021 when he was struggling with depression. He hadn’t spoken a word to anyone for quite some time, and combined with the family issues he was dealing with, he had started to think that life was worthless.
The music has really helped me to forget my worries and cope much better. It brought back my confidence and really improved my mood. It has changed my life.
The Redwoods Centre is a mental health inpatient facility in Shrewsbury. It also welcomes people from the community to its bistro area and light filled atrium, where Music in Hospitals & Care musicians play every month.
Jessica Kent is the Arts for Health Lead at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. She tells us why the live music is beneficial for patients, staff and family members.
Bringing live music to either the ward or in a public area provides the patients with a moment of relaxation and allows them to tune into a different kind of vibe. It’s important for our staff because it cuts through the dynamic of the ward.
Manchester Sensory Support Service works with families of children with visual and hearing needs in Manchester from birth until they leave school. Music in Hospitals & Care musicians visit the babies and toddlers group in the community room at Asda Eastlands around once a month.
Leah has been coming to the sessions with her 17 month old son, Amari, for over a year.
Deaf and hearing impaired children being exposed to music, especially in this small group, is very important. They can interact with and touch the instruments to feel the vibrations.
Harpist Delyth Jenkins has been a Music in Hospitals & Care musician since 2007, playing a mix of traditional Welsh music and her own compositions in a variety of settings.
We have recently been working with Delyth and Hywel Dda University Health Board to bring live music back into critical care at Glangwili, Withybush and Prince Philip Hospitals in South Wales for the first time since before the pandemic.
As musicians, our playing is informed and inspired by the listener’s response. Every response from a patient in critical care is really valuable and it’s so humbling to be back playing for them.
Alexander is two years old and lives at home with his parents and two older brothers. They go to Kites Corner in Gloucester for respite care and daytime support. We recently joined them there for a family music day.
Alexander loved doing the actions along with the nursery rhymes so I know he thoroughly enjoyed it – his smile proved it too.
Rights Made Real is a project that focuses on improving quality of life in care homes and supporting staff to embed human rights into their everyday practice.
“You see people, who might at other times be agitated or concerned, becoming joyful. If a staff member can sit next to somebody and have a great sing song with them, it levels the playing field a bit and we begin to see each other just as people again.”
Keshia looks after her four children, two of which have additional needs. She started coming to Lifted Carers Centre in Wythenshawe just a few weeks ago and has been back almost every day since. One of the first activities she took part in with the group was a Music in Hospitals & Care live music experience.
It uplifted my emotions and put a smile on my face.
Singer and guitarist Edelle McMahon has been working with Music in Hospitals & Care in Northern Ireland since 2018. Edelle reflects on the #MusicEveryDay online programme as the weekly live streams draw to a close.
Live streams helped people to feel less isolated
Singer and guitarist Charlie Gorman joined Music in Hospitals & Care in 2013 and has performed regularly at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for the past eight years.
It's a light in the week to work towards.
“We’re not just listening to the radio or a recording, it’s live music. Somebody’s actually there singing the song and you can get up and sing along with them.” says Claire, a volunteer at The Friendship Cabin, an activity group for adults of all abilities based in Glenrothes, Fife. “When I first started here my confidence was way down, but now I’m up dancing all the time with the members and I really enjoy it.”
“Music just seems to lighten things. You’re that busy singing and dancing you don’t think about anything else. You’re living for the now. It’s great.”
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