What We Do
Music shines a light on what we can do, create, remember and learn.
Wishing Well was created in 2013 and became a registered charity in 2022. Partnerships and the voices of everyone we work with are at the heart of what we do. We’re proud to be part of the growing Creative Health movement and our approach is underpinned by the ever-growing evidence base that demonstrates the transformative impact of music on our wellbeing and mental health.
Our programmes create
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Each year, we deliver around 300 participatory music-making sessions in healthcare settings across Sussex and Surrey, reaching around 2300 people.
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We sing to premmie babies in incubators and support parents to sing their first lullabies, helping to normalise neonatal units and support attachment
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We put instruments into the hands of children in hospital so that they can create and have fun. It’s a chance to do something that has nothing to do with what is “wrong” with them but has everything to do with being a child.
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We support young people facing real mental health challenges to write brand new music to help express how they’re feeling and to feel confident about who they are. We teach real skills that can be carried forward into training or careers.
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Across our region, in hospitals and psychiatric wards for older people we hear countless life stories and musical memories. We create space for older people to sing and play themselves back to feelings of levity and motivation. We hold hands and dance wherever possible and see the huge impact of meaningful connection
Our training
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We deliver an established “Music and the Future Doctor” elective module for students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. We guest lecture for the Masters in Paediatrics at Brighton University.
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Training for Healthcare staff, giving them an opportunity to understand the impact of music and to identify how they can use simple music making techniques in their everyday work
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Apprentice pathways for music facilitators wanting to bring their skills into healthcare. We are particularly interested in hearing from musicians who are under represented in the music for health sector.
Find out more on our Apprenticeship page.
Our timeline
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2013
Our very first 5-day training session and the launch of our pilot project with The Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital. Little did we know how much we'd grow!
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2014
Training sessions continue and we expand to inpatient psychiatric wards for people living with dementia. These became weekly music groups full of music, movement and memories.
We launch an apprentice programme to support early-career music for health practitioners.
We create an elective module for medical students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School about how using music builds rapport and trust.
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2016-18
We are finalists in The Nursing Times and Health Service Journal Awards and winners of the Musicians' Union Inspiration Award.
Wishing Well expands across Sussex and into Surrey with weekly music sessions for premature babies, children and older patients.
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2019
Wishing Well becomes an independent Community Interest Company!
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2020
During the pandemic, we pivoted to online music-making in hospitals and a "doorstep serenade" programme for people with dementia and their carers, bringing live music to people's doorsteps and gardens.
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2022
We become a registered charity!
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2023-25
We clarify our values and mission and deliver a 3-year strategy focusing on strengthening NHS partnerships, maintaining the high quality of our work, supporting our brilliant team of musicians and training NHS staff and emerging musicians