Music for Dementia's work is driven by a simple truth… music can improve the lives of people living with dementia and bring joy, connection and comfort.
Our journey began by supporting talented individuals like Beatie Wolfe, whose live performances in care homes uplifted people living with dementia, while also conducting research on the impact of music. Her YouTube film "Power of Music & Dementia" garnered over 17,000 views!
In 2017, we commissioned the International Longevity Centre (ILC) to map the "music for dementia" sector. Led by the late Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, and convening over 1,500 experts, the resulting report highlighted a fragmented landscape, far from our vision of music as an integral part of dementia care. This pivotal moment helped shape our music and dementia initiatives.
Through various partnerships, including the Paul and Nick Harvey Fund and the Power of Music Fund, we’ve distributed over £3.5 million in grants to nearly 300 music and dementia organisations across the UK. We are proud to have been the first funder for many of these initiatives, helping them grow and gain national recognition.
In 2020 we launched M4D Radio, a free online radio station featuring music to evoke memories and bring joy to listeners, this has won several awards and works as a tool for both people living with dementia, and their carers. Be sure to keep up to date with Music for Dementia on socials, and sign up to the mailing list, to be one of the first to hear about exciting developments on the horizon for M4D Radio."
The creation of the Musical Care Taskforce (MCT) in 2019, and later the partnership with UK Music, led to the co-production of the ground-breaking Power of Music report in 2022. This report serves as a blueprint for embedding music in dementia care, offering solutions to improve health and wellbeing while reducing costs for healthcare providers. To ensure the report’s impact wasn’t lost, we formed the Power of Music Consortium.
Two years later, our progress is clear, new partnerships, doubled funding, the formation of the Power of Music Learning Network, and the creation of a Centre of Excellence in Manchester to gather evidence on music’s potential to save the NHS costs.
Music for Dementia isn’t just about funding and reports—it’s about changing perceptions. Our Music for Dementia campaign has raised awareness across the UK, from the BBC’s Music Day 2019 to nationwide events like Thank You Day 2023, which included collaborations with celebrities like Lauren Laverne, Vicky McClure, and most recently our Music for Dementia Ambassador, Tony Christie, who has just won the Third Sector ‘Celebrity Champion’ award 2024 for all his incredible support and work with Music for Dementia.
We are focused on the future. Through our Give it a Go campaign, and newly created reports, we’re reaching family carers with uplifting, practical advice on using music in daily life.
For more information on our work, or to get involved, explore the Music for Dementia campaign and discover how music can transform dementia care.
