News & Blog
Illustration by Krina Patel
At Wishing Well, we see firsthand the transformative effects that live music has for people living with dementia. Every day, in every session we deliver, we witness people feeling more joyful, connecting to their memories, their families and to a sense of their own identity.
Why does music work?
Studies consistently show the profound effects that music has on the mental and physical health of people living with dementia. Dementia UK outlines numerous health benefits; reducing heart rate and blood pressure, relieving muscle tension and helping people manage pain. Not to mention brain benefits too – music triggers feel-good hormones, endorphins, which can ease depression, anxiety and agitation.
How do our participants feel?
Spending time in hospital can be an isolating experience. People may feel lonely and miss their usual routine, familiar people and places. We take our music right to people’s bedsides creating a sense of community, connection and unhurried conversation. A healthcare worker on one of the wards commented:
There is a patient singing and dancing. This patient has been feeling very down; I feel that the patient has lost his sparkle. As soon as [the Wishing Well musicians] started playing, the patient started dancing, smiling and interacting… I think today’s moment will stay with me for a long time.
We open up space where patients can express themselves, share their memories and tell us how they feel. One day we’ll commission a book of all the beautiful stories we have heard!
I can remember all the words! My Mum played the piano. We all sat around singing together. My whole family sang. I haven’t thought about it for a while. But I remember now.
Music brings us into the present moment, distracting us from our worries and helping regulate our nervous systems. People often tell us how much better they feel after singing with us.
I had a bad night, no sleep and was not very happy. But it was such an amazing treat, so unexpected to have musicians come to my room. To ask me what music I liked was a complete joy and helped me turn a corner and get better.
Tips from our musicians
Here are some tips from our Wishing Well musicians to make a music-making session with someone living with dementia a meaningful and accessible experience:
How do I select a song?
The important thing here is that making-music together is a shared activity; the doing is as important as the end result because of the memories and sense of connection it can achieve.
- Go gently and avoid pressure. Instead of asking direct questions like “What’s your favorite song?”, approach the topic more generally.
- Use genres or significant memories. Explore genres like country, folk, or classical music to help narrow down choices.
- You can Ask about past experiences. Conversations about concerts they’ve attended or places they’ve gone dancing can spark inspiration. You can also discuss big events or memories where music may have played a part.
- Incorporating visual cues can be helpful, for example, pictures of singers, scenes from musicals, or images of people dancing can jog memories and guide song selection.
- For further help, consider using the BBC’s Music Memories tool
What if I don’t know the lyrics?
No worries! Here’s how to overcome that:
- Sing along using YouTube or search Google with just one line of the song to find the full lyrics.
- Don’t feel pressured to perform the entire song. If you want to sing unaccompanied together, often singing the first verse and chorus is enough.
Do you need to play an instrument?
Not at all! Singing unaccompanied or “a capella” can be a very calming and connecting experience. If you’d prefer accompaniment:
- Sing along to records, CDs, or YouTube videos.
- Add percussion for an extra dimension. Everyday household items work great as makeshift instruments! Try shaking lentils or rice in a jar, tapping on tables, or using graters and spoons as drums.
Join us in making a difference
Despite the positive results of research into this area, getting music-making into hospitals continues to have its barriers! At Wishing Well, we’re committed to bringing the joy of music to those who need it most. This Dementia Action Week, celebrate with us by supporting our programs, donating, or simply sharing the message of music’s impact.
If you’re worried about yourself or someone close to you can check your symptoms by using the checklist at Alzheimers UK.
Music is a universal language that holds a unique role in community building. Each week during our hospital visits, we witness live music bringing patients of all ages, their families, and the staff who care for them together in a shared experience that creates connection and common ground.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the theme of Community and the power of music to bring everyone on the hospital ward together, reminding patients that they are not alone; creating joy, levity and meaning – things which are essential in supporting our mental health.
Hospitals can feel isolating, but music can change that. It transforms them into places of joy, creativity, and connection—offering moments of purpose that go beyond the usual routines of care.
At Wishing Well, the communities we create provide vital emotional support. We hold a space on the hospital ward for people to play, sing and share their stories. Often there is dancing and always, there is the sense of slow-paced attention being given to people’s more-than-clinical needs. Many of our participants tell us they feel less lonely and more uplifted after meeting our musicians. One participant said:
You made such a difference – it’s like we’re all round the campfire singing together. What an atmosphere! I’ve been here for weeks with nothing to do. This is so very welcome.
And it’s not just the patients—families and staff feel the impact too. Music gives them a chance to recharge and share joyful interactions. A healthcare worker commented:
It was a breath of fresh air to focus on something that wasn’t physiological but that can equally or even more so can impact our patients, the relationship we have with them and ultimately, the level of care we give.
A family visitor:
Being in hospital is like being on a long-haul flight – you’ve no idea what day it is or how long you’ve been here but your music has made such a difference. It’s the first time I’ve seen Mum look herself since she’s been here… the first time she’s really smiled.
The 2023 Creative Health Review demonstrates the amazing impact of programmes like ours. Yet funding this vital work is still a challenge. Donate here to keep us bringing live music to the heart of healthcare.
We are delighted to announce the release of our new short film, Music at the Heart of Health, created by filmmaker Dan Jay Stockmann and filmed at The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
For over a decade, Wishing Well has been bringing live music-making to the heart of healthcare settings, working with NHS trusts across Sussex and Surrey. Since 2013, our award-winning work has brought joy to the lives of thousands of patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Our interactive music-making sessions provide a moment for patients to reconnect with joy, emotion, and their sense of self. Whether it’s soothing a premature baby and their family, or sparking memories for an older adult living with dementia. In the film, our CEO, Jo White, reflects:
Hospitals can sound quite stark and they can also be full of noises that are stressful. I sort of see us as part of a network of things that can support people’s mental health and wellbeing and make life a little bit more joyful.
There is incredible potential for the arts in healthcare settings. We hope this film inspires more people to recognise the vital role of music in healthcare settings and to join us in ensuring this work continues.
Honestly, probably the biggest challenge is being a small arts organisation that relies on funding from trusts and foundations and donations from the public and keeping these projects going. We are running 300 music-making sessions every year. The need is so, so high, but the financial challenges are quite real.
If this film resonates with you and you wish to help us bring live music-making to more patients and families, you can donate here.
This project was made possible through the generous support of My University Hospitals Sussex, Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. We also want to thank UHS Trust’s Small Acts of Friendship group for their partnership, support and guidance.
Wishing Well Music for Health is seeking a Fundraising Consultant to develop and begin implementing a new income diversification plan for our charity.
We bring live music to healthcare settings across Sussex and Surrey—supporting the wellbeing of patients, families and staff through meaningful musical interactions at the bedside. Having established a strong track record of fundraising from trusts and foundations, we’re now ready to expand into new income streams.
The consultant will carry out detailed research and provide insight into the most suitable and realistic new fundraising opportunities for our charity. This will include consideration of our sector, partnerships, geography, size and capacity—as well as the current economic landscape.
The final plan will include:
-
A clear timeframe, targets and actions
-
Suggested ways to trial, continue or stop different income streams
-
An outline of anticipated returns on investment and associated risks
You’ll also begin implementation of the plan (to be agreed with Wishing Well), and provide a final report and handover with recommendations for future action.
We’re looking for someone with:
-
A strong track record in income diversification
-
Broad experience across areas such as major donors, corporate, and community fundraising
-
Ideally, knowledge of the Sussex region and/or the Creative Health sector
The consultancy will run from May to October 2025, with days and fees agreed in advance.
To apply, please send an expression of interest by Thursday, 1 May to Jo White, CEO: [email protected]. Please include your CV, relevant experience, and a brief outline of your proposed work plan, including the number of days required and your daily rate.
Relevant docs:
We are delighted to share that Wishing Well Music for Health has been awarded a grant from Sussex Community Foundation! This vital funding ensures we can continue supporting children and young people across Sussex through music.
This grant will help us achieve creating weekly music spaces for young people. We will be working in partnership with the schools’ mental health service, creating safe, uplifting weekly music sessions where children and young people can express themselves and find joy through music. It will also help us continue our ongoing music-making activities with young people. This grant, matched with funds from the Youth Music grant, supports our wider programme of music-making activities for children and young people across Sussex.
A huge thank you to Sussex Community Foundation for their generous support, which enables us to continue bringing music to the heart of healthcare for young people.
We are thrilled to announce that Wishing Well Music for Health has been awarded a grant from Arts Council England to support our music programme in healthcare settings! This funding enables us to continue our mission of bringing live music to the heart of healthcare and offer moments of calm and connection for patients, families, and staff across the healthcare community in Sussex.
The grant will enable us to give music-making sessions for older patients and those recovering from stroke at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and deliver our programme for patients in critical care at Royal Sussex County Hospital. We will also create inclusive musical experiences in public spaces of hospitals, spreading some joy and uplifting the environment for everyone present.
We are grateful to Arts Council England for supporting us to make a meaningful difference to those who are spending time in healthcare settings – thank you! Stay tuned for updates on the programme as it unfolds!