In collaboration with Leicester Musical Memory Box (LMMBox), Headway Leicester will be part of an interactive online project using music and singing to enhance the wellbeing of people from the South Asian/ BAME community with memory problems, diagnosis of dementia and acquired brain injury.
The new joint online music project ‘Geet Sangeet’ translated as ‘Songs Sung Together’ will incorporate music and cultural refeences specific to the South Asian community led by group leader, Beena Masand from LMMBox. Each session will begin with gentle exercises to warm-up the body and brain followed by singing and chat about various music, songs, and media. Attendees will also receive their own ‘musical memory box’ in a bag which will make the sessions even more interactive!
The Local Connections Fund is a new £4 million fund to help charities and community groups working to reduce loneliness by building community connections across England. Through this programme and previous partnerships, DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund are working together to help prevent loneliness, strengthen our communities, and improve people’s lives.
“We are delighted to collaborate with LMMBox and reach out to more people across Leicester who have been affected by brain injury”
Mary Goulty Services Director at Headway Leicester.
There is a clear need for a support service within the BAME community and that’s why we launched our BAME group last year, which is providing a vital lifeline to brain injury survivors we support and their families. The weekly group is led by two dedicated members of staff who are fluent in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu and aim to provide the local community with a supportive network and a safe space to explore the unique challenges that a brain injury may bring.
Using music and singing to is a valuable tool when working with someone with a memory problem or brain injury. Sometimes unlocking otherwise lost experiences and memories; we anticipate that attendees will experience a boost in confidence, improvements in mood and reduce feelings of social isolation.
Leicester Musical Memory Box supports people living with dementia and other memory problems, and their carer’s. Since July 2018 the charity has grown from one group in Leicester City, to six groups overall including a group specific to the South Asian community.
“In spite of the lockdown, we are thrilled to be able to once again provide a culturally specific group for the South Asian Community. We also know that the group leader needs to come from that community and have the music and cultural knowledge to be able to engage participants effectively” Kyle Newman, group leader and co-director of LMMBox.
If you would like to be part of this new collaboration please contact Kyle or Beena on the details below.
If you are concerned about memory loss or a dementia diagnosis you can call Leicester Musical Memory Box on 07736841558 or them on LMMBox2018@gmail.com or visit their website www.leicestermusicalmemorybox.co.uk
