Paul & Nick Harvey Fund grantees announcement
After weeks of assessing applications to The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund, we are delighted to announce that 27 organisations have received grants of between £5,000 and £50,000.
The grants, distributed by The Utley Foundation, will enable the successful applicants to further their existing musical services with people living with dementia. The money will be shared among 30 projects across the UK in local communities.
In just six weeks over 170 organisations applied to the fund which we launched in January this year. A diverse range of projects from dementia choirs to music therapy services are receiving much-needed support for their work.
For the list and descriptions of grantees, see our Paul & Nick Harvey Fund page.
To see whether there is a grantee providing musical services in your area, visit our Musical Map for Dementia.
Support all round
Not only will those living with dementia benefit, the ripple effect of the fund will also touch carers, family and friends who support them in the community, in care home settings and at home.
The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund was made possible by a kind donation from The Hunter Foundation to Music for Dementia, after philanthropists Sir Tom and Lady Marion Hunter saw Paul Harvey and his son Nick’s TV appearance on BBC Breakfast. Paul, who lives with dementia, was shown playing his spontaneous improvisation from just four notes (later named Four Notes – Paul’s Tune).
Read the back story and the donation announcement.
Connections and joy
Grace Meadows, our Campaign Director, explains: “Musical services have been severely impacted in the last year, meaning many people living with dementia and their carers have lost those important connections and special moments that music, uniquely, provides.
“As Paul & Nick’s story so poignantly shows, music has the power to make beautiful moments of togetherness.
“It couldn’t be more timely to be distributing this fund just as we are beginning to see the green shoots of in-person services start to emerge. We can’t wait to see and hear the amazing stories of shared experiences that this fund creates.”
Lizzie Cody, Utley Foundation Manager, said: “Seeing so many grassroots musical providers receive funds that enable them to continue their fantastic work in the community is amazing.”
We’ll be bringing you stories of the work this money is supporting over the coming months.
BBC Breakfast coverage, 13 May 2021
BBC Breakfast kindly broadcast the announcement and this is how they covered the story.
“Magic happens, he comes back to life”
Music therapy projects receive donation inspired by Paul Harvey’s ‘Four Notes’. https://t.co/oExVKtbszs pic.twitter.com/amUvDZ9utS
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 13, 2021
Former music teacher Paul Harvey, who lives with dementia, went viral last year with his piano playing
Now the Paul & Nick Harvey Fund has been set up to help those with the disease. Grace Meadows from Music for Dementia tells #BBCBreakfast all about it. https://t.co/sgguiXm7qw pic.twitter.com/g8sUQaXjEu
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 13, 2021