Musical therapy for hospice patients

A group providing musical concerts for adults and children in hospices and care homes is among those benefitting from the latest round of lottery funding.

A total of 39 community-based projects across Wales are today sharing in £152,792 awarded under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small grants programme.

Music in Hospitals will use its £4,964 to provide 34 concerts for adults and children receiving care, support and treatment in hospitals, hospices, care homes, day care centres and specials needs schools in north, mid and south Wales. The project aims to encourage people to take part in the events to help relieve stress. Established in 1948, Music in Hospitals holds nearly 5,000 live concerts a year in the UK

Melanie Peters, Music in Hospitals’ Development Manager in Wales, said: "Research shows that live music can assist the healing process, reduce pain, anxiety and depression helps to create joy for those people who need it most of all.

"Concerts bring a sustained improvement to the quality of life of adults and children affected by all kinds of illness, life limiting conditions, mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities whilst creating a shared experience that can be enjoyed by the wider community of healthcare staff, volunteers, and relatives. The musicians do not provide miracle cures but magical moments of warmth and joy as they help to bring the person out of the patient."

In Caerphilly, Phillipstown Residents and Community Association receives £3,640 to hold a community carnival weekend in June to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee while The Zone will spend £1,457 to open a youth centre in a church hall in Oakdale.

Cardiff-based Forest Farm Leisure Allotments Society will use £5,000 to install a composting toilet on their site while the Bracken Trust in Powys also receives £5,000 to provide additional counselling and therapeutic sessions for people with cancer.

Reg Cawthorne, chair of The Bracken Trust, said: "The news that we have been granted the funding was a wonderful Christmas present. This will enable The Bracken Trust to support people affected by cancer, their carers, families and the bereaved at home when they are unable to travel into The Bracken Trust due to their poor health. The funding will make a huge difference to our patients and is much welcomed."

In the Vale of Glamorgan, The Castaways receives £3,558 to launch a new luncheon club for older people and in Torfaen, Friends of the Green Group in Blaenavon will use £4,962 to organise two events to bring the community together. This will involve setting up a mobile unit to show films.

Gareth Williams, Awards for All Programme Manager for BIG in Wales, said: "Awards for All is having a positive impact throughout Wales. Money is helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities."

Available in English and Welsh, the application form for the programme can be downloaded, completed and emailed direct to the Big Lottery Fund as well as being available in hard copy.

Application forms are available from www.awardsforall.org.uk or by phone on 0845 4 10 20 30.