ScottishPower Foundation announces second year of support for Music in Hospitals Scotland

The ScottishPower Foundation has announced a second year of funding for Music in Hospitals Scotland, the live music charity which offers high-quality musical performances for people in hospitals, hospices, day care centres, special schools and care homes. A celebratory concert took place at Robin House in Balloch yesterday to mark the second funding milestone.

The funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will enable Music in Hospitals Scotland to provide an additional 50 ‘Magic Moments’ concerts with professional musicians in care establishments across Scotland this year.
 

Robin House, which is run by Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), is a purpose built ‘home from home’ that offers care and support for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families. Children were treated to a live performance from singer and guitarist Amy Rayner.

Recent research has provided evidence demonstrating that participating in live music can improve physical and psychological well-being, reduce levels of pain, anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation. Staff working in care establishments also often report that the positive atmosphere created by Music in Hospitals session can be long-lasting as well as provide a moving experience for family members.
 
Magic Moments concerts will be delivered at no cost to the care units with the majority of events taking place in rural, isolated or Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation areas, reaching those in greatest need.
 
Ann Loughrey, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life in local communities throughout the UK and we’re delighted to be supporting the Magic Moments concerts and seeing first-hand the impact which music can have.”
 

 
Florence Burke, Chief Executive of Music in Hospitals Scotland, said: “Every year, we rely on the generous donations of our partners and supporters and we are thrilled to have the support of the ScottishPower Foundation for the year ahead. The service we offer can be invaluable to residents and their families and we’re delighted to be able to continue to bring music into the lives of people who need it the most.”

Alison Ringrose, CHAS Activities Facilitator, said: “Children and young people had a fantastic time at the concert and we are very grateful to all those involved for making it happen. Music is a wonderful way for them to have fun and express themselves. These events also give families the opportunity to create special memories, helping them to make the most of their time together, no matter how short.”

Music in Hospitals was established in Scotland in 1980 to deliver concerts to people of all ages in hospitals, hospices, care homes, day centres and special needs schools. Last year the charity delivered 4,431 concerts throughout the UK with 1,772 taking place in Scotland.

For further information please contact Jen Ward or Laura Blyth at Stripe Communications on 0131 561 8768 or email spfoundation@stripecommunications.com

Notes to editors

• The ScottishPower Foundation is a registered Scottish charity (SC043862) and a company limited by guarantee (SC445116). The Foundation’s aim is to make a significant and lasting contribution to society and enhance the quality of life in local communities. It provides funding to registered charities and non-profit organisations for the following purposes: the advancement of education; the advancement of environmental protection; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the prevention or relief of poverty and the relief of those in need by reason of disability or other disadvantage; the advancement of citizenship and community development.
   
• Music in Hospitals works with carefully selected professional musicians and operating across the healthcare spectrum and aims to bring the therapeutic benefits of live music to people of all ages living with an illness or disability, particularly those in long term care.  The charity stages interactive live music sessions for a wide variety of audiences, including patients in hospitals and hospices, residents in care homes, attendees at day care centres and pupils at special schools.  Every year it provides in the order of 4,500 sessions across the whole of the UK, tailored to the particular group from children with profound and multiple learning disabilities to older people living with dementia, or adults recovering from serious injury or illness.
   
• Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is the only charity that provides hospice services in Scotland for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. It provides care through two hospices – Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch – and also through CHAS at Home which has teams working from both hospices as well as dedicated teams in Aberdeen and Inverness, caring for families in their own homes when they need it most. The charity supports over 350 families, as well as a significant number of families who receive bereavement support. It generates support through tireless, year-round fundraising to secure over £9 million needed every year to run its hospices and provide services to families. For further information, visit CHAS at www.chas.org.uk