The ScottishPower Foundation has announced a new partnership with Music in Hospitals, a UK charity which offers high-quality live musical performances to people living in care. With funding from the ScottishPower Foundation, the charity will provide an additional 50 ‘Magic Moment’ concerts with professional volunteer musicians in care establishments across Wales this year.

A celebratory launch concert took place yesterday at the Queens Elizabeth Court in Llandudno which provides residential, nursing and specialist dementia care for over 60 residents who were serenaded by professional mezzo soprano Sioned Ellis, accompanied by Philip Knowles on the piano.
 

Recent research by the charity has confirmed the therapeutic benefits of live music. The study, which was conducted by the University of Sussex and Serei University in Japan, found patients in care homes with mid-stage dementia showed increased levels of cooperation, interaction and conversation following exposure to live music.

Magic Moments concerts are delivered at no cost to the care units with the majority of concerts taking place in rural or isolated venues 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 across the UK and we’re delighted to be supporting the Magic Moments concerts and seeing first-hand the impact which music can have.”

Robert Aitken, Director of Music in Hospitals in Wales, said: “Every year, we rely on the generous donations of our partners and sponsors so 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.”

Music in Hospitals launched in 1948 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 across the UK.
 

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

ScottishPower Foundation

• 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

• Music in Hospitals is a charity with over 65 years’ experience in providing live music concerts to healthcare settings.
• The charity organises around 5,000 concerts a year for people of any age receiving care or treatment for an illness or disability. Around 450 concerts are organised in Wales each year.
• Examples of one-off sessions currently offered are: themed reminiscence afternoons in care homes; sing-along sessions at day centres for adults with disabilities; family fun performances at children’s hospices and classical concerts in oncology units for those undergoing treatment for cancer.
• The patron for Music in Hospitals Wales is world-class soprano Rebecca Evans.