Folkestone & Hythe
£500
Older People
Project Overview:
Musical Walkabout CIC is dedicated to exploring, promoting and practicing music for wellbeing. The programmes harness the power of music to engage people experiencing social isolation, living with dementia and the care givers and staff who support them to live well. For people living with dementia, it’s been found that musical and physical interactions can assist with wellbeing, independence and support cognitive functions such as attention, memory, speech and communication.
Their Songsters – Music, Dementia and Wellbeing Walks series took place in Folkestone’s Coastal Park. Chosen deliberately as not only is it accessible but a vibrant and thriving area that many different people congregate over the summer.
Sessions are designed to encourage creative expression, physical activity, access to nature and re-integration into the community. Participants included people living with dementia, people in caregiving roles and those in health and social care. Primarily living in Folkestone, Hythe and Hawkinge, many participants walk or travel by public transport to reach the sessions.
“At every session, we have been excited to receive the positive responses of ‘impromptu audiences’, smiles, waves, comments and sometimes the musical participation of passers”.
Nina, Musical Walkabout
Organisation Impact:
- Secured funding from other sources
- Developed new partnership with Roger De Haan Charitable Trust
- Increased confidence to deliver physical activity
- Made new connections with local social prescribing link workers
Community Impact:
- Visible and engaged in the Folkestone Community
- Development of network of like mind people
- Reduced social isolation
- Helped families be active together
Key Learnings:
Increasing Participation: Connect with local organisations to reach more participants and create opportunities for joined up working. Musical Walkabout reached out to Folkestone, Hythe & Rural PCN, Hythe Dementia Awareness Forum and local Age UK’s.
Use community spaces: Use places and spaces that are easily accessible for all, think about how your participants will get to you, where they come from and where they will feel safe and comfortable to be active.
Next Steps:
Musical Walkabout have strengthened their core team, recruited volunteers and increased their presence in the local health and social care community, this will help with increasing participation, fundraising and securing further funding. Members have also said they would contribute to membership fees in the future.
“This support has raised our profile, increased confidence in our mission, and helped us build stronger relationships with local organisations, ensuring a lasting impact on the community”.
Nina, Musical Walkabout
To find out more about Musical walkabout or to join one of their sessions contact Nina at nina@musicalwalkabout.com