Charity ambassador Barbara Dickson has hit the right note by spearheading a charity’s funding appeal for a new centre in Dunfermline.
The Fife singing legend, an ambassador for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, joined a taster music therapy session for people with dementia at the Fire Station Creative in Dunfermline.
Music therapy is recognised as an effective way to help develop communication, increase confidence and improve concentration for some of the most isolated people living in communities.
Led by two professional Nordoff Robbins music therapists, the session was part of the national Luminate Festival of Creative Ageing.
The therapists used a wide range of hand held percussion instruments to engage the participants in various ways.
The group used beaters, shakers and bells to create music together and also took part on a one-to-one basis with the therapist to communicate and express themselves creatively through music.
“It is magic to see how people with dementia can still respond to music and start interacting with the therapists simply by using different percussion instruments,” said Barbara.
“I am delighted that Nordoff Robbins is partnering with the Fire Station Creative to set up a new clinic for the people of Dunfermline.”
The clinic will be based in a fully equipped portable cabin at the Fire Station Creative and will offer music therapy sessions to people from the local community.
Thanks to the pledge of support from the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, the charity is halfway to its target of £24,000 for the new clinic.
Carolyne Nurse, fundraising director at Nordoff Robbins Scotland, said: “We are looking forward to having a base in Dunfermline which will be easily accessible to local people who are isolated by their health or disability.
“We use music to change the lives over 400 people across Scotland every week from tiny babies to people over 90 and this will fill a gap in local provision for those who are living with a range of challenging conditions such as learning disability, cerebral palsy, autism and dementia.
“The £12,000 pledge from the Carnegie Trust is a great boost and now we need raise a further £12,000 by the end of 2016.”
To make a donation to the new clinic email carolynenurse@nrscot.org.uk, call 07794661959, or post a cheque payable to Nordoff Robbins Scotland to Carolyne Nurse, c/o, the Fire Station Creative, Carnegie Drive, Dunfermline, KY12 7AN.
