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Highlights from a successful 2024 at Playlist for Life
As we near the year's end, we reflect on our best moments which supported people living with dementia through personally meaningful music.
We’ve started and ended the year with our mission front and centre: we want everyone with dementia to have a unique, personalised playlist and for everyone who loves and cares for them to know how to use it.
In 2024, with thanks to our supporters, community partners and trained professionals, we are extremely proud to have done so much to bring personal playlists to people living with dementia, their carers and families.
From a national awareness raising campaign to embedding playlists into dementia care, here are some of our achievements from another remarkable 12 months.
Winning the Charity of the Year award at the Scottish Charity Awards
We were over-the-moon to be crowned Charity of the Year at SCVO’s Scottish Charity Awards. To receive the award as recognition for all we accomplished with our partners and supporters in 2023 was a great honour.
We’re proud to share this with people living with dementia, their families, carers and everyone who has supported Playlist over the past decade to press play on the soundtrack of so many people’s lives.
Serenading commuters on Valentine’s Day
Music, memories and love were in the air as we serenaded the commuters of Glasgow on Valentine’s Day at Central Station. Musicians Gus Harrower and Elizabeth Brewer performed love songs and took requests in return for a donation.
We gave out free resources to help people create a playlist, including a mixtape template that could be personalised and given to someone as a Valentine’s gift.
The event caught the attention of The Herald, Glasgow Live and Glasgow Times.
We also raised £350, which has gone directly toward supporting people affected by dementia.
Starting a nationwide conversation for National Playlist Day
We spearheaded the third annual National Playlist Day which got the nation talking about the soundtrack of their life. The campaign was packed with exciting moments. The first was a heartwarming performance from Scottish band The Bluebells and the Every Voice Community Choir (which brings people with dementia together to sing) at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. They teamed up to sing the band’s best-known hit, Young at Heart, which captured the attention and hearts of museum visitors and Scottish national press.
On National Playlist Day, Friday 20 September, we were honoured to have the support of Sir Alex Ferguson who gave a very special interview on BBC Breakfast, discussing dementia, cherished memories and the songs that have soundtracked his life. He was joined by our lived experience ambassadors Anne and Emma who shared their powerful personal testimony of how music has benefited them to BBC Breakfast’s five million strong audience.
Celebrating a bumper fundraising year
From Mastermind to the Kiltwalk, 2024 was a year of unique and successful fundraisers. As a small charity, we rely on the generosity of donors and fundraisers to keep our support free to any family affected by dementia.
An annual golf event, organised by our Trustee Dr Frank Dunn and his wife Helen Dunn, raised £33,000. And the famous Mastermind chair came to Dunfermline in March for a special fundraiser organised by trustee Fiona Haro and family, raising £20,000.
Four supporters donned their walking boots and kilts to take part in the Kiltwalk – raising funds and spreading the word about the power of music for dementia to fellow walkers. A big thanks to Harriet, Hazel, Rachael and Victoria. Get FREE ENTRY to the 2025 Kiltwalk by walking for Playlist for Life.
Another generous fundraiser, Sean Elder, opted to ask for donations to Playlist for Life in lieu of gifts for his 40th birthday. He also organised a wonderful fundraising concert in St Andrews.
We also took music to the streets and shopping centres of Glasgow, serenading commuters and shoppers in exchange for donations. Thanks to our pianists: Gus Harrower, Elizabeth Brewer and Romy McCahill.
Using music as medicine in healthcare and social care
The Older Adults Community Mental Health team in NHS Fife completed Playlist for Life training in 2024 and reported a reduction in the use of medication by up to 80% for some people living with dementia after integrating personally meaningful music into their care.
We also accredited a record number of professionals this year, who are delivering Playlist for Life training across health and social care organisations in the UK.
Exploring the public’s individual music tastes
We hit streets of Glasgow to ask people about their music preferences: from favourite songs, special memories and the artist and tracks they never want to hear again. We filmed these to create short videos to underscore the uniqueness of everybody’s life soundtrack. The videos were shared on our TikTok and Instagram channels to further raise awareness and encourage others to get involved and spread the word.
Launching an interview series
To highlight the many benefits of meaningful music in dementia care, we launched an interview series called Five Questions With. Guests from a variety of professions, including third sector leaders, care home managers, mental health nurses, and activities coordinators, shared their experiences using personal playlists to support those with dementia. This series showcased how music can help enhance person-centred care and build connections between people and those providing care.
@playlistforlife Tell us a song that brings back great memories! 🎶 💚 meaningful music can help people living with dementia. #the1975 #taylorswift #glasgow #buchananstreet #playlist #streetinterview #musictaste #playlistforlife
♬ original sound - Playlist For Life
Co-creating a new resource with our lived experience panel to support people living with dementia through playlists
Our work at Playlist for Life always has people living with dementia at its heart. With thanks to the self management fund from the ALLIANCE, we supported a lived experience panel to create Music as Medicine: a new resource by and for people affected by dementia. The resource gives helpful tips and advice from people who have made and used playlists to support them throughout their dementia journey.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make 2024 a huge success for us. If you would like to make a contribution, please consider sharing our resources or donate to help us keep our support for people living with dementia free.
