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Playlist for Life hits milestone of 2,000 community partners
We are excited to announce the 2000th sign up to our Help Point Network!
Our latest partnership is with the Highland Senior Citizen’s Network (HSCN), a highland-wide older people’s charity that advocates for people over the age of 55.
HSCN joins our network as one of the many organisations across the UK who are passionate about bringing the power of personal playlists to their local communities.
The ‘Help Point’ network was first established in 2017 and is a 2000-strong group of community groups and organisations helping people affected by dementia through the power of personally meaningful music. Help Points can be found throughout the UK in libraries, community centres, dementia cafes, faith centres and any other community location where people living with dementia, their families and carers might access free support. Playlist for Life provides support in the form of free promotional material and resources to help people build playlists (available in 12 languages) and a free 2-hour eLearning course available to all staff and volunteers at Help Points.
Playlist for Life’s work is based on more than two decades of research showing that ‘personal music’ – the specific tunes attached to someone’s emotions that can spark memories – can help those living with dementia by alleviating stress, managing symptoms and strengthening relationships with family members and carers. Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that listening to personally meaningful music can help to boost the brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease. The report encourages to ‘keep listening to the music that you’ve loved all your life. Your all-time favourite songs, those pieces that are especially meaningful to you. Make that your brain gym.’
“This milestone is hugely exciting for us, and the whole Help Point network. Playlist for Life aims to reach people living with dementia and their carers in whatever setting is best for them, which is why collaboration is key for our charity. By partnering with groups and organisations all around the UK, we can share the message that personally meaningful music can help people affected by dementia in so many ways.”
“Anyone can make a playlist. It doesn’t have to be about being a whizz with technology or spending any money. Finding the music that brings someone back to themselves is the key, even if you’re simply singing that music together. It’s universal and can be beneficial for anyone, regardless of their background. Currently there’s no cure for dementia, but music that is special to the individual can have transformative effects. We’re thankful to all our community partners for helping us share this powerful message with anyone affected by dementia.”
The 2000th Help Point, Highland Senior Citizens Network, aims to share the power of playlists with as many people in the Highlands affected by dementia as possible. So far, they have shared the power of personalised playlists with their 500+ newsletter subscribers, and with Lochaber Life community magazine readers. Playlist for Life featured on their monthly Community Connections slot on Nevis Community Radio and Local Organiser, Jemma Galbraith, spoke to HSCN members during a virtual Tea Break. Partnering with another Help Point, Kinlochleven Community Library, led to a successful Playlist for Life Carers’ Tea event and plans for further collaborations.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be part of this great movement! Being a Playlist for Life Help Point can be whatever you or your organisation can manage within your resources. What’s important is spreading the word so that more people with dementia and their carers and families can access this great initiative, and so that communities and families can get involved in promoting it and supporting its successful use. Being involved in Playlist for Life isn’t just beneficial to those who need it most, it also generates lots of fun and connection in families and communities through conversations about music!”
Playlist for Life encourages any community group or organisation that supports people affected by dementia to become a Help Point. It’s free to sign up and all Help Points receive leaflets and materials to support families, plus access to eLearning and a closed networking group to share ideas and success stories with other Help Points.
Become a Help Point
We want to help support your organisation’s activities, so we’ve created a pack of materials which can be distributed to any person living with dementia who you think might benefit. This includes:
Any organisation that can provide free advice, support or activity to people affected by dementia are invited to apply, from grassroots community groups to libraries, dementia cafes, sports clubs, community Police stations and GP Surgeries. No matter how you reach your community, there are multiple ways for you to set up your Help Point and share the power of personal music.
Translated Materials
Our free resources are now available in Bengali, simplified Chinese, Gaelic (Scottish), Gujarati, Hindi, Nepalese, Polish, Punjabi, Somali, Urdu and Welsh
If you would like to request more printed materials or have suggestions on other languages that would be helpful for your community, please get in touch.
