A new two-year programme will bring over 90 hours of live music to veterans across Scotland and England, creating more opportunities for ex-service people to connect and share memories through the collective joy of live music.
Thanks to renewed funding from the Veterans’ Foundation and Army Benevolent Fund, our professional musicians are sharing regular live music at six settings, including Lothian Veterans Centre and Veterans’ Café in Dalkeith, the Linburn Centre for war-blinded veterans in Wilkieston, the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley, Admiral Jellicoe House in Portsmouth and Pembroke House in Gillingham.
This year, we have shared 33 hours of live music with veterans. Staff have observed that regular participation in live music has helped retired members of the Armed Forces community feel happier, less anxious, more emotionally connected and socially engaged, which contributes to improved mental health and wellbeing.
Many veterans live alone, face sensory loss and have previously attended centres infrequently, increasing their risk of loneliness. By bringing people together regularly through familiar, meaningful music, the programme will help to reduce social isolation and strengthen a sense of belonging. Feedback shows that live music has improved veterans’ mental wellbeing, helping 94% of them feel more connected and engaged and 90% experience less stress.
Our musician, Charlie Gorman, regularly visits the Lothians Veterans Centre, and has seen how live music can help bring veterans together. Charlie explains: “The music is really appreciated as an added extra to the many get togethers of veterans meeting up with friends, some of whom haven’t seen each other for many months, or even years. It’s a great activity for these veterans, and for many, it’s a social lifeline.”
Since 1948, Music in Hospitals & Care has brought people together and strengthened social bonds through the power of live music. Today, that commitment remains as strong as ever. Thanks to generous funding from the Veterans’ Foundation and continued partnerships across community settings, we can continue reaching veterans most at risk of loneliness, sensory loss and declining wellbeing, helping them feel connected, valued and supported through live music.
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