Music and Memory - individuals with Dementia writing their own songs and releasing an EP/Album
My name is Manuka, I am a Music Wellness facilitator and have been working as a freelance practitioner since the start of the pandemic. After working in non-profit organisations for 8 years I began my path by combining music with wellness. I work to engage with communities by supporting organisations in increasing their accessibility to different experiences by offering them a way to improve wellbeing through singing and song-writing/creative writing.
My recent focus has been particularly on Music and Memories for individuals with Dementia. Most of my previous works had started due to the increased funding for online arts and wellbeing sessions because of the restrictions and significant increase in mental illness during the lockdown period. This is where I worked to support individuals online for a sustained period via different projects ranging from 12 weeks, 6 months to a year (whereas previously funding online lasted 4 to 6 weeks). Some of these partners were BME Dementia Service, People in Action, LEEP1, Leeds Playhouse, The Performance Ensemble, Older People’s Forum, Richmond Fellowship Creative Links and so on.
Since the lift of the lockdown period, there has been a cut in available funding across organisations which have also ended these sessions and prevented further support through music. I have in the meantime been working to fundraise via busking in Leeds City Centre, setting up market stalls selling upcycled handmade accessories (which I make and are also available on Instagram @manuka.upcycles). At the moment, I haven’t been able to fundraise alone to sustain something for the long run which is why I need your help. The aim is to work with individuals with dementia and their carers teaching them to sing and write, and tap into their musical expression and original voice to write songs which will then be recorded and released as an EP/Album. In order to fulfil this goal, the aim is to raise £5,000 to cover the costs of the sessions, facilitator costs, technical, travel costs and studio recording, mixing and mastering time, along with the support of other musicians.
With your financial support, I hope to move towards the goal and start working with organisations that support individuals with Dementia from the week commencing 31st October up until the week of 24th April with an additional 4 weeks for production and release of the EP/Album.
This project successfully funded on 18th October 2022