About

Campaign so far

As a result, the Music for Dementia campaign was established in 2018 by The Utley Foundation, a grant-making charitable foundation that champions the use of music for people living with dementia.

In 2019, radio DJ Lauren Laverne was appointed as our Ambassador.

Today, we work with more than 200 charities and organisations in the music and dementia sector, as well as health and social care, the music industry and government departments.

Music for Dementia was set up in response to an International Longevity Centre report into the provision of music for people living with dementia. 

A key recommendation was for a national campaign to highlight the value of music for people living with dementia.

Meet the Team

Neil Utley
Founder and Trustee

My interest in music started in my teens, when I played for various bands in Sheffield. Many of the groups we were with did fantastic things. Def Leppard, Human League, Heaven 17 to name a few. Unfortunately, at the time, a career in banking beckoned! Later on, when my wife and I set up the Utley Foundation in 2014, using music to help people with difficulties was a key corner stone for us. To see the Music for Dementia project come to fruition is hugely rewarding.

  • Jack Johnson, Better Together

    Recommended by my daughter as the perfect wedding song, and isn’t it just? We were very happy to walk down the aisle to this being sung and played by a couple of our artists on acoustic guitar and harmonica. It’s also one of the few songs in my badly played personal repertoire.

    Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven

    A ‘must have’ on any guitarist’s list. Always an aspiration for someone learning guitar to master it. I never did master the solo though.

    Arctic Monkeys, Mardy Bum

    I’m not sure whether my wife uses these words at me or I use them at her. Anyway, we’ve always thought of it as our song.

    Joint fourth place: Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody/ Green Day, Jesus of Suburbia

    I love the way these two songs incorporate entirely different changes in mood, tempo and bring it altogether into an epic musical piece.

Nicky Utley
Founder and Trustee

A qualified chartered accountant, I completed my early training at Price Waterhouse and then joined Ernst & Young, where I specialised in banking and financial institutions. As a keen supporter of children’s charities, it was important to me for The Utley Foundation to make it a charitable objective to donate to causes that help children. The charities we support include Caudwell Children, the Crippled Children’s Association of Sri Lanka, A Vision of Britain and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Sarah Metcalfe
Managing Director

I first saw the power of music in my teens, when my granddad developed dementia.  He had been a Church of Scotland minister and even when he forgot how to speak, he could somehow find words again to old hymns and Scottish folk tunes. The last time I saw him we sang together, looking out of the window. That’s why I love being part of the amazing movement of people and organisations that work tirelessly and creatively to bring the power of music to all those living with dementia. It is wonderful to be involved.

  • It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

    My brother, sister and I would record the charts on a Sunday then listen during the week, performing this and other classics, dancing on our beds.

    Friday I'm In Love - The Cure

    Reminds me of good friends and adventures studying in Sicily.

    Umbrella - Rhianna

    A song for my husband. It played all the time when we were working in the Caribbean and the words mean a lot.

    The Brandenburg Concertos – J S Bach

    I love how organised Bach is. I put these on my headphones when I’m working in a busy office and they help me concentrate.

    Boys of Summer

    I like the way the guitar sounds like seagulls.

    Evil - Nadine Shah

    Reminds me of my children, growling the words and looking cool

Wendy Harris
Head of Grants

Contact

Music has been a huge part of my life since I was young, whether playing an instrument, being part of a pretty bad pop band or going to an eclectic mix of concerts and gigs with friends and family. In recent years, music has become even more important as both my parents were sadly diagnosed with dementia. There have been so many beautiful musical moments with my parents in recent years and music really is one of the most effective ways to reach and bring joy to people with dementia. I feel thankful to be part of a movement that also believes in the power of music to support even more people with dementia.

  • ABBA – Summer Night City

    The first vinyl album I owned was ABBA, a gift from my brother, and they have been a soundtrack to my life ever since. This song makes me feel alive and excited to be heading out into a hot summer night in London.

    Something to Remember Me By – The Horrors

    Always in my playlists, this powerful track has a thumping bass line and fantastic lyrics – what more do you need?! The poignant title also makes me think about our love of music.

    ABC – The Look of Love

    Loved this track for years as does my partner who is quite possibly the biggest ABC fan out there. We see them pretty much every year and this track takes us back to the 80s – one of the best music decades ever!

    The Lark Ascending – Vaughan Williams

    This beautiful piece is incredibly special to my family, it has a place in my heart and never fails to stop me in my tracks.

    Doves – Pounding

    I have so much love for this band and this song sums them up perfectly. Exhilarating, beautiful, joyful. Always leaves you feeling euphoric and wanting more.

Peyton Miles
Communications and Relationships Manager

Contact

I feel so incredibly grateful to be a part of this movement. I spent a few years studying early brain development in children, and have seen first-hand the integral role that music plays in emotional and mental wellbeing. I was so keen to join the team and help raise awareness of the importance and the power of music.

  • Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke

    This must be my number one feel good song! If ever I need a pick me up this is my first choice - “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand”.

    The Temptations – My Girl

    Mine and my little girl’s song. When I was pregnant, she would always have a little dance when this was played. It will forever hold a place in my heart.

    Michael Bublé – Forever now

    A song that resonates since becoming a mother, it is one that almost always makes me tear up.

    Otis Redding – Sitting on the dock of the bay/ Hard to handle

    Otis has been a staple of my upbringing. I love soul/ Motown music. His voice both calms and energises me.

    Foo Fighters – Wheels

    I have an eclectic taste in music. This was one of the first songs I played on the guitar, and my go to when needing an electric guitar fix.

    Gavin Degraw – I don’t wanna be

    I absolutely love this song! It was theme song to one of my favourite shows growing up (One Tree Hill). I was both mesmerised by the song and the fact that one of the main characters was named Peyton.

People dancing