The Power of Music Fund
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Power of Music Fund, a ground-breaking initiative managed by the National Academy for Social Prescribing. Kickstarted by a generous £1 million donation from The Utley Foundation, alongside support from Music for All, Arts Council England, and other donors, including members of the public, this fund is set to revolutionise the way we approach dementia care.
Applications for the fund will open on November 22nd, offering an incredible opportunity for locally based music and dementia groups, including choirs, to receive small grants of £1,000 or £2,000 per year for three years. Additionally, a Centre of Excellence will award an impressive £500,000 over three years to a consortium bid that must include the NHS. This Centre of Excellence aims to support music and dementia activity in a specific area while gathering valuable evidence of savings to the NHS.
Mark your calendars, as the small grants fund will open for applications and the Centre of Excellence will open for expressions of interest on November 22nd. The closing date for small grants is December 22nd, while the Centre of Excellence will accept applications until December 29th.
It's important to note that applications to the Fund will be administered and assessed by the National Academy of Social Prescribing, ensuring a fair and impartial process. At the Utley Foundation, we firmly believe that organisations deserve proper funding to make music an integral part of dementia care. By supporting the Power of Music Fund, we have already witnessed new resources being committed to the sector and have already earlier this year administered 100x grants of £1000 with the Power of Music Fund.
Check your eligibility to apply for to the Power of Music Fund today and be a part of this transformative movement.
What is it?
The Power of Music Fund supports music projects that make an incredible difference to people’s physical and mental health. These include dementia choirs and singing groups, which can have a life-changing impact for people living with dementia and their carers.
The Power of Music Fund is dedicated to supporting music projects that have a profound impact on people's physical and mental well-being. This includes initiatives like dementia choirs and singing groups, which have the power to transform the lives of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Forget-me-not Cardiff North. Grantee of the Power of Music mini choir fund
Why is it needed?
In the UK, nearly a million people are living with dementia, supported by hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers. While there is no cure for dementia, evidence shows that music projects can significantly improve health, well-being, cognition, and social skills for those affected. However, grassroots initiatives like dementia choirs struggle to secure the necessary funding for even basic expenses like room hire and transport. That's why we helped established The Power of Music Fund, with a goal of raising £5 million to bring hope and joy to thousands of individuals through the power of music.
The fund will support dementia choirs, carers groups, and projects in care homes, particularly in areas with the greatest needs. Additionally, it will contribute to research and advocate for lasting changes in the healthcare system's collaboration with community music groups, ensuring that more people with dementia can access the support they need through music.
We are thrilled that all proceeds from the 2023 Thank You Day Anthem – Thank You For Being A Friend re-recorded by Tony Christie and friends – are going to the Power of Music Fund.