Guernsey’s Healing Music Trust (HMT) has been awarded major funding from Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, to support its live music programme for the next three years.
The new grant, along with the contributions from the Trust’s numerous other long-term supporters, ensures that over 180 concerts will be held throughout this year, in day centres, nursing homes, community groups and special educational settings, with similar planning underway for 2019 and 2020.
The Healing Music Trust was established in 1999 with the aim of bringing therapeutic experiences arising from live music to residential homes, hospitals, day centres, and schools for children with special needs. Working closely with Music in Hospitals (MIH), a UK charity, a programme of six concert tours per year has been established, using performers selected by MIH to provide a range of musical styles. Each tour lasts 12 to 14 days and consists of up to 30 concerts reaching an estimated 1,000 people, many of whom would not otherwise be in a position to attend external concerts.
Jo Le Poidevin, Executive Director, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands commented on the funding: “Supporting HMT is a great way to reach many vulnerable islanders in Guernsey as they provide excellent therapeutic experiences of live music. The positive impact for those participating in the concerts is immediately evident. We are delighted to commit three years of funding for an excellent initiative which supports so many of the Foundation’s priority groups in our community.
