Sprowston Day Care

Music and media education charity CME worked with the two groups at Sprowston Day Services on Aslake Close for a year. The groups included users from the special care unit with learning and physical disabilities and elderly people with dementia. Average attendance was between 35 and 45 each week. 

Participants took part in singing, instrument, art and animation sessions. The tutors worked by encouraging centre users to put forward their interests and ideas, and use those ideas for songs, music making and art. Participants were offered a range of instruments to try out, such as gongs, hand drums, electric drums, ukuleles, violins and bells. The groups were asked to associate with songs and instruments, encouraging reminiscence and creativity, from which artworks were developed, such as decorated cut-outs of guitars and plasticine models which were animated using computer equipment. Songs were written, performed and recorded by the participants and used as soundtracks for their animations. 

The project aimed to increase the confidence, self-esteem, team working skills and communication skills among participants. Staff reported that that the users were all much more aware of their environment, responsive to others, and generally expressed increased well-being as a result of the project. 

 Sprowston Day Services support worker Diane Wilson said: "The tutors brought a great deal of enthusiasm and pleasure to our service users. They've been able to experience first hand many different musical instruments, something which has brought huge smiles and much laughter to the session"

The music sessions brought the two groups together, uniting them with small personal triumphs. Diane said: "Music breaks down barriers and this has certainly happened here at Sprowston. I have witnessed very shy, quiet service users enjoy joining in with singing and dancing. One extremely shy young lady would not usually sit with the group but would always sit on her own. The music tutor approached her with a shaker and to my delight she took it and used it appropriately." 

CME has worked with people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, drugs and alcohol issues and other social disadvantages since it was set up 25 years ago. This has developed a tutor team with a great deal of training and experience and sensitivity in delivery of personal development outcomes through music and media activities. CME's ethos has always been to facilitate users' own creative development and to listen to and expand ideas and skills within the group. 

Tutor Ian Brownlie said: "The sessions were great fun and there were lots of surprises. The participants' imagination was startling and their ideas shaped all of the sessions."