JULY 2026

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all 

I hope everyone is well and not getting too drenched by all the rain? We have had a very productive month here thanks to our wonderful Trustees who have been amazing at giving their time and energies to getting us on top of all the things that need doing. 

First off Lucy’s comprehensive revamp of our Data Protection Policy was ratified at the Trustee Meeting on the 19th May. This can be found in the policies and downloads section of our website (scroll all the way to the bottom of our home page to find it) for those of you who haven’t read it yet. Whilst I can see from the google  forms document that 17 of you were champing at the bit to read through it (and as for the two of you who have signed to say you’ve read it twice – extra brownie points for you) it seems there are one or two of you who seem to have forgotten to sign the form to say you’ve read it. Please can you check to make sure you have done this or I will need to start phoning round – and no one wants that!!! Similarly the compulsory monthly safeguarding and “disinfecting of the equipment” confirmation form seems to have been ignored by a few people so again – please remember to do this as it makes life just that little bit more difficult when I have to chase people for it! 

Next up, huge thanks goes to Alison for holding my hand through the implementation of the risk register. This will now be included on the agenda for every Trustee Meeting so if any of you want to get risky – watch out! In all seriousness though if any of you do have any thoughts on risks please give me a ring and have a chat – its always best to err on the side of caution! 

The situation at Carrow House continues to …evolve. Can our staff and volunteers who have a key now make sure that they DO NOT lock the outside doors if there is another keyholder remaining on site (which you can only check if you have the app). This seems to have changed at some unknown point from the original guidance which was that the outside doors should be locked when it is “out of hours”. I have requested that a comprehensive guidance document is produced by Unity Hub that we can send out to everyone but as yet it hasn’t materialised. On a more positive note all the spaces out the front of the building have now been designated (and properly line painted) as disabled badge holder spaces only. This should help with a couple of our groups who seem to struggle to find a space out the front on some days. 

A gentle reminder to you all that it is the annual Trustee awayday next month so if any of you would like to feed in to the strategic planning or perhaps reflect back on the past year you are very welcome to send in your thoughts and they will be passed on to the Trustees. 

I have been struggling to find time to come out to visit the projects that we run outside of the studio and I would very much like to get off site for a change and come and see the amazing work you do out in our communities. Rather than fishing for an invite I will be contacting some of you directly to see whether there might be any issues with me visiting over the next couple of months so hopefully I will escape that office every now and again!

Gervase.

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• The dark side of music as ‘therapy’

https://theconversation.com/the-dark-side-of-music-as-therapy-278919

• Former Brewdog bar to reopen as live music venue

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l27jn2jz1o

• Australian musician's US ban prompts apology from girlfriend over Trump post

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7p9z37x5go

• Autodidacticism and Music: Do Self-Taught Musicians Exhibit the Same Auditory Processing Advantages as Formally Trained Musicians?

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2020.00752/full

• Save the date! Drake Music are excited for this years Emergent Artist showcase, platforming the work of 5 early-career Disabled artists who have taken part in the 2026 Emergents programme! More info coming soon... Date: Saturday 24 October 2026 Venue: LSO St Luke's, 161 Old St, London, EC1V 9NG

• Disabled DJs & Dance Music Culture
  This study, undertaken by researchers at University of Birmingham and Drake Music, and in collaboration with Disabled DJs, explores how Disabled DJs experience dance music culture, using interviews and media diaries. Read the article here.

• We’re delighted to share this new short film about the Touch Timpani, a bespoke accessible musical instrument developed as part of OrchLab, a long-term partnership between Drake Music and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

  Here, you’ll find out about the Touch Timpani and the co-design process that led to its creation. You’ll also hear from technologist Gawain Hewitt who built the Touch Timpani, as well as from Natassia, one of the Disabled participants involved in the design process.

• ACE replaces Let’s Create and vows to fund ‘on basis of quality’

  Chief executive Darren Henley says the body is ‘committed to supporting artists, organisations, museums and libraries to create excellent work for everybody everywhere’. Read more here.

• Norfolk Arts Forum Network Survey

  We are planning to organise more networking opportunities for Norfolk Arts Forum members throughout the year, working with library colleagues to host meet ups in local libraries.

  We intend to run a pilot session in the autumn, and we would appreciate it if you could share your views with us, by completing this short 5-minute survey, to help us design the content, format and location of future events. The deadline for responses is Friday 26 June. Thank you in advance for completing this - we really value your views and comments. Submit here.

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Taking place around the country, DMLab is a space for Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians, technologists and accessibility advocates. Through the use of technology and co-design principles, we find new ways of accessible music-making. DMLab Colchester with CLIP - Thursday 11 June, 7pm to 9pm, Biofeedback Beats.

• Norfolk & Norwich Festival is delighted to announce the Network Grants, a set of seed–funding grants to grow the cultural networks across East Anglia.

  The initiative will fund eight individuals, collectives or organisations to develop or build cultural networks across East Anglia, with the aim to enrich the connections in the cultural sector as well as develop cultural leaders working in the region.   

  Eight x £1000 grants to grow cultural networks across East Anglia, to connect and develop our cultural leaders.

  Deadline: 10am on Wednesday 1 July 2026. Apply here.

Continuing professional development

• Communication, Behaviour & Practice Courses from Artswork Professional Development Online Interactive courses on wellbeing, trauma, behaviour, risk and safety, and supporting young people tailored for creative & cultural settings.

• Creative Health and Equity Lead invited you to Creative Health Zone - Health Expo 2026
  17 June 2026
  12:00 - 13:00 (GMT)
  Meeting link: Creative Health Zone - Health Expo 2026 | Microsoft Teams | Meet-up-Join

• Momentum x Papyrus - SPEAK Suicide Prevention Training
  Free suicide prevention training, delivered by Papyrus in partnership with Momentum.

  SPEAK (Suicide Prevention: Explore, Ask, Keep-Safe) is a half-day training workshop developed by PAPYRUS, the national charity dedicated to preventing young suicide. Delivered in partnership with Momentum (part of Voluntary Norfolk), this workshop is aimed at anyone who supports or works with young people.

  The session introduces key suicide prevention skills and offers practical guidance in a safe, supportive environment.

  Carrow House Norwich, England, Wednesday June 10, 10:00 - 14:00, sign up here.

• Hidden Bias in Everyday Decisions

  In partnership with The I.D.E.A.L Network, move beyond bias awareness to understand how it manifests in systems, habits, and organisational decision-making – and how to avoid it.

  11th June 2026, 3.30pm - 5pm, Online (Zoom). Sign up here.

• Creative ageing and men - learning event, 8 July

  The Arts Council England’s Creative Ageing Peer Learning Group is holding a special session on the topic of creative ageing and older men on 8 July, 10am to 12pm UK time.

  The session is on Zoom (join here) or Find out more.

MARCH 2026

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all 

I hope everyone has been taking the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine? I have to admit its been a slightly quieter month for me on the work front as I had to take to some leave and almost completely stopped myself from checking emails, but I have managed to catch up with a few of you and from the reports I’ve been getting I think I may be pretty much alone in my experience! 

Top of the priority list last month and this has been the reporting back to funders. For some reason these tend to arrive in clusters but its actually quite useful to allow us to look back and see what we have achieved with the generous donations we receive. One thing that the funders frequently want is ‘quantitative data’ on things like ‘numbers of beneficiaries’ and that has prompted us to have a think about how we might best report this. For some projects I don’t think we even collect any quantitative data so I thought I would ask you all for ideas on what would be the easiest way for us to get monitoring data from you. Would an email with a weekly webform link be easy? Would you just find it easier to send us an email with ‘the numbers’, a telephone call? Please email me your ideas as we are in the process of implementing some software changes that might be able to make this sort of thing easier! 

Sam and I are still trying to work our way through the annual accounts but this effort continues to be somewhat hampered by bank holidays and annual leave so it feels a little like wading through treacle at the moment. Thankfully we know enough to be satisfied that we aren’t broke! 

The studio space is getting quite busy now (especially on Fridays) but I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that is using it as you have all been absolutely wonderful at tidying up after yourselves. I am ashamed to admit that I may have had some doubts about whether the studio could be kept clean and tidy given the numbers of people using it but you are all doing a brilliant job of leaving it as you have found it and we are very grateful to you all for taking such good care of it! 

We have a Trustee meeting coming up on the 19th May so if any of you have anything that you would like to feed into that then please let me know. We will also be having the annual ‘away day’ at the beginning of July where we discuss what has been achieved over the past year and set priorities and targets for the coming year so if any of you would like to have a say in that I am certain the Trustees would be very interested to hear from you. Lastly here are some things that have caught my eye over the past month: 

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Was 1999 the worst year in music history?

  https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/was-1999-the-worst-year-in-music-history/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb

• Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7jpg4w181o

• Indie music has been invaded by fake fans and cynical viral campaigns​. Here’s how deep it all goes

  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/apr/29/geese-outcry-phoney-virality-music-fans-hype

• The dark side of music as ‘therapy’ 

  https://theconversation.com/the-dark-side-of-music-as-therapy-278919

• 'The benefits of music are immediate, varied and free of side effects'

  https://www.lemonde.fr/en/science/article/2026/04/29/isabelle-peretz-neuropsychologist-the-benefits-of-music-are-immediate-varied-and-free-of-side-effects_6752949_10.html 

• Can 36 minutes of specially tuned music 'reset' an anxious brain?

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/36-minutes-specially-tuned-music-auditory-beats-reset-anxiety-brain

• The first Festival of Volunteering is taking place throughout Norfolk this June as a month-long celebration inspired by the UN’s International Volunteer Year. Groups across the county are invited to thank volunteers, share stories and host activities to inspire new people to get involved. Voluntary Norfolk’s Volunteering Extravaganza at The Forum will be the flagship event.
  
  Find out what events are happening near you or download the resources to take part.

• What if listening became the main event again? Polygon Portal, London's first dedicated 360° spatial audio listening room, was created to do just that. And Nordoff Robbins are the charity partner.

  Opening 5 May 2026 in the heart of Soho, we’d love for you to be part of it.

  Sign up as a Polygon Insider for free and you’ll get access to sessions, early booking opportunities, and entry to the Portal’s social space and bar. Sign up here

• Pivot Fest - Learning Disability Arts Festival

  Portsmouth, 08-10 May, Free. Details here.

• We’re delighted to share this new short film about the Touch Timpani, a bespoke accessible musical instrument developed as part of OrchLab, a long-term partnership between Drake Music and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

  Here, you’ll find out about the Touch Timpani and the co-design process that led to its creation. You’ll also hear from technologist Gawain Hewitt who built the Touch Timpani, as well as from Natassia, one of the Disabled participants involved in the design process. View it here.

• Creative Health Lead – March Roundup

  It’s been a busy few months for Claire as she continues her work as Creative Health & Equity Lead, across Norfolk & Suffolk.

  Since starting six months ago, she’s been building relationships across sectors, investigating how the role adds value, and iterating on where she can contribute most.

  In an attempt to convey the work being undertaken, a monthly roundup blog will now be created as a way to communicate ‘behind the scenes’, the work happening to develop the Creative Health Sector for Norfolk & Suffolk.

  Click to read the March Roundup

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• RNIB & Sound Without Sight: Call out for musicians
  RNIB & SWS are trying to reach blind and partially sighted musicians who have previously received funding from the Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund who would be interested in performing at a concert on 3 July.
  Deadline: 6 May | Access: Contact mas@rnib.org.uk
  More information about this call out

• Open Call: Artist Residency and Public Art Commission

  Ginkgo Projects invites applications from East of England-based creative practitioners for a unique residency and public art commission at Mill View, a new residential development in Bedfordshire. Through a short residency, you will collaborate with the client and design team to create an integrated, enduring artwork that responds to the landscape, enhances the visitor experience, and reflects a strong, craft-led approach. Find out more

Continuing professional development

• Tips for Teaching Early Years Music

As part of our launch for the ‘Early Years | A Common Approach‘, Music Mark has worked closely with a number of Early Years music specialists to develop a programme of resources for music teachers who are starting to work with early years children for the first time. In this Q&A, Sarah Wise, a member of the Steering Group who worked to create this new area of the programme, shares insights from the development process and advice for using the resources in practice. Read more.

• Artswork Professional Development

  Online Interactive courses on wellbeing, trauma, behaviour, risk and safety, and supporting young people tailored for creative & cultural settings.

  eLearning Courses

• We are so excited to present the first ever DMLab festival! Featuring an instrument building workshop (suitable for beginners and children 8+), presentations and demos from instrument designers and makers and live performances from d/Deaf, Disabled, Non-Disabled and Neurodivergent artists. Join us as we showcase the latest developments in the world of accessible music tech.
  Low-cost and free tickets are available to book online, make sure to secure yours before they go!

  Book Now

  Date: Sunday 24 May (Bank Holiday weekend)
  Time: 10am to 10.30pm
  Venue: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA or online
  Access: BSL interpretation, live captioning, quiet space, relaxed performances, step-free access, accessible toilets, Changing Places facility

• Out of the Ark | Sparkyard 30-Day Free Trial
  Sparkyard brings together 1,000+ Out of the Ark songs, assembly plans and curriculum resources in one award‑winning platform, giving teachers simple, effective ways to embed singing across the school day. From routines to wellbeing, it supports and enriches many aspects of school life. Start your free trial today!

• Planetary Health, Creative Health and Research: 21 May, online

  Join three research leaders – Maria Chatzichristodoulou, Helen Chatterjee and Zoe Moula – to find out more about their approaches to researching the intersections of human and planetary health and creativity. Read more

• Music For Education & Wellbeing podcast

  In a new episode of the Music For Education & Wellbeing podcast, Anita Holford talks to Clair McColl (Strategic Lead at Dorset Music Service), Pili Lopez (Inclusion Project Manager at Dorset Music Service) and Tenley Martin (Senior Lecturer in Music Performance at Leeds Beckett University).

  They discuss how they’ve developed a music and wellbeing training programme for primary school staff – specifically Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) – to holistically support children’s emotional health and learning. Listen to the podcast >

MARCH 2026

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all! 

First of all, a quick reminder of our first whole-team get together happening tomorrow night at Carrow House, 18.30 - 20.30. It’s the first of 2026 and we have a really exciting presentation from head of music therapy at Anglia Ruskin, Annie Heiderscheit. We hope you can make it!

I hope everyone is well and enjoyed some down time over the bank holiday weekend? It's a busy time of year for us here at Musical Keys central office what with preparing the end of year accounts and trustees report, getting to grips with whatever new security measures have been put in place this week at Carrow House and beefing up our fundraising efforts in an effort to rise to the challenges of the last year! 

Sam and I have a budget for the coming year that we are ready to present to the Finance Committee for approval by the Trustees. It does rather feel a little bit like doing the horoscopes at the moment as things are a little unpredictable, but at least we have something to work to! 

We have had some wonderful donations coming in over the last month. I don’t know if any of you knew Roger Noble? We have had a steady flow of donations coming in over the last couple of months in Rogers memory and one of the Hethersett Pantomime Group producers wrote us a few lines about Roger:

'Uncle Roger', a dear friend and member of the Hethersett Pantomime family. He gave so much of his time and talent to the Hethersett Pantomime Group, supporting and encouraging everyone in their music and singing and even taking part in comical elements of the show himself! He will always be remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and thoughtful friend who had time for everyone, a true stalwart of the Pantomime Group. Thank you Roger for being the most wonderful friend to us all and for the time and talent you brought to the Hethersett Pantomime Group. You will be missed, remembered and honoured by us.

All in all Rogers memory has prompted donations of around £2000 so it is obvious that he was very well loved locally. If any of you have any first (or even second) hand knowledge of Roger we would love to hear from you. 

Our Trustees have been busy again assisting us with policies and procedures and generally guiding the ship. We have a new Data Protection Policy coming out soon so please look out for that. I realise that the vast majority of you are all freelance but we need you all to adhere to our policies and procedures whilst you work for us as much of our funding is contingent on us having these policies and procedures in place (and being used)! 

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• This feels like something we should be trying to get Norwich involved with! 

  https://www.musiccitiesnetwork.com 

• The DJs changing the record on the music scene

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8j0xn7ykdo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D

• AI Is Forcing Middle-Class Creators To Think Like Music Label Executives

  https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasminebrowley/2026/03/30/ai-is-forcing-middle-class-creators-to-think-like-music-label-executives/ 

• Music therapy in memory care: What the research says

  https://www.care.com/c/music-therapy-in-memory-care/

• Inclusive Practice in Action Review
  Back in February, Drake Music partnered with Sound Connections to produce a community music sector event, focused around the theme of 'Creating Change Together'. It was an incredible day, with presentations, performances, demonstrations and discussion from our Future Leaders and Youth Forum members. Read the report here!

• Sounding Board from Sound Sense

  Focusing on community music in schools, featuring a brilliant article from local practitioner, Xenia Horne.

  Read the issue here.

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Writing commission

  London Arts and Health, the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance and Arts & Homelessness International are also curating an edition of The Big Issue for the week and are seeking proposals of:

  Articles of 300 - 1,000 words or Creative submissions

  Thanks to funding from Thrive LDN and Arts Council England, they can offer a fee of £150 for each article or creative submission chosen for The Big Issue.

  More info

• Norfolk and Suffolk Creative Health commission

  We are also working behind the scenes across Norfolk & Suffolk to support Creativity & Wellbeing Week and will provide further details on what we have planned and how you can get involved, in future updates.

  As an open festival, anyone who wants to host an event focused on culture, arts and wellbeing is encouraged to contribute to the programme.

  We'd like to warmly encourage individual artists and organisations across Norfolk & Suffolk to take part, to make the week a brilliant and memorable celebration of creativity and wellbeing across our counties.

  For now, if you are planning any Creative Health delivery during May, then consider how you could use Creativity & Wellbeing Week as an opportunity to highlight your work.

  More info

• Base Frequencies - Sound and the Outdoors

  101 Outdoor Arts – July 6, 2026 - July 10, 2026 – South EastBase Frequencies is our professional development lab for artists using sound as a key part of their practice and interested in making work for the outdoors.

  More info

Continuing professional development

• CHWA Conference Common Ground

  The Culture Health and Wellbeing alliance’s biennial conference will run from 7-9 October 2026 in Barnsley.

  The conference is an opportunity for the creative health sector to come together for nourishment, knowledge and support.

  The theme for 2026 is Common Ground and learning will be how we can come together to effect deep and much-needed systemic change.

  Guided by the Creative Health Quality Principles, the gathering will be person-centred, equitable, safe, creative, collaborative, realistic, reflective and sustainable.

  More info

• Planetary Health, Creative Health and Research. 

  Online, Thursday 21st May
  Click to book.

• the I.D.E.A.L (Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accessible Leadership) Network, aimed at supporting and empowering current and aspiring music education leaders across the UK.

  These sessions are open to all, with discounted rates available for Music Mark members.

  We’re delighted to introduce Sam Stimpson, who, joined by a fantastic group of guest speakers, will be curating a series of monthly sessions, including masterclasses, panel discussions, and webinars, during term time over the next year.

  The I.D.E.A.L Network brings together a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to inspire and equip you with the tools to create more inclusive, diverse, and equitable music education environments.

  Upcoming Sessions:

  • Leading Inclusion When the Room Isn’t Ready | 22nd April, 3:30pm - 5pm

  • Belonging by Design: Creating Cultures Where People Thrive | 19th May, 3:30pm - 5pm

  • Hidden Bias in Everyday Decisions | 11th June, 3:30pm - 5pm

  Find out more and book your place on our I.D.E.A.L Network Events page.

• Artswork Professional Development

  OnlineLearn safeguarding, inclusion, survey design & more anytime, anywhere with our flexible self-guided eLearning courses.

  Self-Guided Courses (eLearning)

• Self-care and artistic nourishment

  Sound Sense board member Dave Camlin will host our next online Gathering with the theme'Self-care and artistic nourishment' on Friday 24 April at 2.00pm (UK time). This will be an open/action learning space to share ideas and approaches for looking after yourself and nourishing your artistic self. Everyone with an interest in community music is welcome to attend this friendly and relaxed online meet-up. Email gathering@soundsense.orgfor more information and joining details. We look forward to seeing you there!

MARCH 2026

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all 

I need to start off by saying that we have seen a downturn in the numbers of staff completing the safeguarding and “sanitary” monthly forms. This is a requirement of our insurance and forms an important part of our safeguarding procedures so it needs to be completed by everyone – every month! It is quite a time consuming process to work out who has and hasn’t completed it so I would very appreciate you all making an extra special effort each month to just take 2 minutes to tick the relevant boxes in the link here: 

March Safeguarding return.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the lovely Spring weather that seems to have sprung rather suddenly? It’s a busy time for us doing budgets and starting to prepare for the accounts along with the day to day business of Musical Keys, but having a bit of sunshine makes it so much easier!

I hope all of you who are keyholders at Carrow House got the email regarding the charges that Unity Hub are going to be imposing on individuals who leave the building unsecured? If you are a keyholder and don’t know what we are talking about please get in touch urgently so that we can let you know about the changes. 

We have been very fortunate to have our wonderful Trustee Alison come in and help us with the Risk Register this month. Alison has all the skills, knowledge and experience we need (and more) to help us with the process of getting the register up and running, but this doesn’t mean we don’t need you all to remain vigilant regarding risks that you come across in your work for Musical Keys. 

We have also benefitted from having another one of our Trustees Lucy coming in to update our policies. Lucy has been revising the Health and Safety policy and is currently heroically tackling the data protection policy. As part of this I was thinking some of you might want to check your status with the Information Commissioners Office. Under the ICO guidance if any of you store, record and manage client information as part of your practice (including but not limited to notes, contact details or session recordings) you may be considered a “data controller” under UK data protection law as Musical Keys may not have control over this data. We would be very happy to talk this through with any of you who think this might be an issue, and there could be workarounds for at least some if not all of the issues you may encounter, but in the first instance if you believe this issue may affect you the ICO have a tool that allows you to assess your status. The link is here: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-fee/data-protection-fee-self-assessment/ or you can just google “ICO data protection fee”. If any of you would like to feed into this at a policy level, we (and Lucy) would be very happy to hear your thoughts!

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

•  Music and the mind. What the science of music reveals about cognition, emotion, and identity

  https://www.apa.org/monitor/2026/03/science-of-music

• 'I'm singing daily in 2026 to build music career'

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y4je9x618o

• High-res music service Qobuz joins France’s Deezer in flagging AI-generated tracks on its platform

  https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/high-res-music-service-qobuz-joins-frances-deezer-in-flagging-ai-generated-tracks-on-its-platform/

• Care through music for those living with dementia

  Music Can – Personalised Music Care for Dementia

• People Get in Way More Fatal Car Crashes on Days Hot New Music Drops

  https://www.vice.com/en/article/people-get-in-way-more-fatal-car-crashes-on-days-hot-new-music-drops/

• Spring Statement: Calls for urgent arts investment as Reeves reveals ‘fiscal headroom’

  While Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s Spring Statement featured little by way of new spending policies, news of greater wriggle room in the public coffers prompt calls for arts investment.

• Ireland launches Basic Income for Artists scheme

  After a successful pilot demonstrating value to wider society, the Irish government has committed €18.27 million to supporting 2,000 practising artists. Each will receive a payment of €325 per week for 3 years from 2026. Read more

• Breathe Melodies for Dads on the One Show
  Breathe Arts Health Research was featured earlier this month on the One Show. The segment spotlights their Melodies for Dads programme, a group singing offer created to support dads and those in a fathering role during the early months of parenthood. 
  It was wonderful to see national coverage for Breathe and their fantastic programme. Find out more about their work here and watch their feature via the link above!

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Our national festival of Creative Health: Creativity and Wellbeing Week takes place from the 18th - 24th May 2026 and is an amazing platform to champion and celebrate creative health across the country. The festival is a partnership between London Arts and Healthand the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance.

  This year our festival theme is “Critical Hope” (for acute times).

  “Critical hope” reflects the ability to realistically assess the environment through a lens of equity and justice while also envisioning the possibility of a better future. Championed as an idea by Paulo Freire, "critical hope" is an active, necessary, and realistic, rather than passive or naive, stance against oppression and despair, deeply rooted in his work Pedagogy of Hope.

  Our commission seeks applications from anyone working across the intersections of climate change, mental health, creativity, culture, health and wellbeing. How can we hold onto critical hope in our creative health work, whilst also acknowledging the difficult times we all face?

  We are looking to fund six (6) events put on by anyone across the field of creative health looking to elevate their work during Creativity and Wellbeing Week, through the lens of “Critical Hope”.

  Commissions are worth £750 and we are seeking to commission six (6): 

  • Four (4) within London and - 

  • Two (2) nationally within England. 

  Applying is easy:head to the form and send us your ideas now. 
  
  Deadline 1st April.

• Commissioning opportunity for socially engaged artists

  Socially engaged artists are invited to work closely with coastal communities, helping turn local conversations about future challenges into meaningful artworks that inform research, policy, and public understanding. This is a call-out for artists to take part in the ARISE Engagement Intervention, a research programme linked to Estuary Festival and funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI). Deadline 08 March

Continuing professional development

•  Disability Inclusive Classrooms with Celebrating Disability

  This session is designed for educators working with students of all abilities, whether teaching whole classes, small groups, or individual learners. We’ll explore how to create an inclusive classroom environment, adapt your teaching to meet a wide range of needs, and empower every student to participate fully in music education.

  Book your place

• How arts and culture help confront loneliness in later life: 30 March, online

  This online seminar, based in Helsinki and conducted in English, explores loneliness, its causes and its impacts on our wellbeing, as well as initiatives across the cultural sectors designed to address loneliness. Read more

• Creative Health Interest Meetings (CHIMe)

  A new initiative designed to bring together professionals from the Arts & Culture, voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE), Healthcare, Social Care, and Public Health sectors who are interested in exploring, developing, and sustaining Creative Health practice across Norfolk and Suffolk. Meetings will take place on the following dates:

  • March 18th 10:00-11:30 – Online

  • May 20th 10:00-11:30 – Face 2 Face

  • July 15th 10:00-11:30 – Online

  • Sept 9th 10:00-11:30 – Online

  • November 4th 10:00-11:30 – Face 2 Face

  Join the Norfolk & Suffolk Creative Health Mailing List to be kept informed of developments happening across the regions. Sign up here.

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all 

I hope everyone is well and has spotted the snowdrops that have pushed through already? It feels like Spring is just around the corner and I for one can’t wait! Its been a busy month despite me having taken some leave at the start, but very productive. 

We had Finance Committee / Trustees meetings mid-month and we continue to be in a relatively healthy financial position despite a downturn in fundraising (which seems to be an experience shared throughout the sector). Our Chair Amanda has been supporting us with the development of the Risk Register and we need you all to be vigilant regarding any risks you encounter in your work for Musical Keys. Risks under the following headings may be particularly relevant to you: Health, safety and environment, Public perception, Adverse publicity & Government policy but we would also like to hear about any and all risks  that you may become aware of during the course of your work. 

The MK Ensemble gig at Norwich Arts Centre on Sunday 18th January was a roaring success! The feedback has been exclusively positive and we are very proud of all involved. I was very sad about not being able to attend in person but have been playing the video and looking at the pics and it looks like everyone’s hard work really paid off! For those of you who haven’t caught up with it yet the link is here: 

Oliver has already emailed around about the changes to the sign in process at Carrow House, but I just wanted to remind you all that for GROUPS we no longer need to get the participants to sign in IF WE ARE KEEPING OUR OWN REGISTER. The register can be used in case of fire to ensure that everyone has been evacuated from the building so please make sure to take it out with you in case of an evacuation (there were two last week so its not a rare occurrence)! ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS NEED TO CONTINUE TO SIGN IN ON THE IPAD IN RECEPTION.  

Our wonderful trustee lucy child is currently working on updating our GDPR policy – she has been consulting with myself and Oliver but if any of you have anything that you would like to feed in to the consultation please let us know and I will pass on your comments to lucy. 

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

•  So, ai music charts are a thing now…

  https://musictech.com/news/music/ai-music-charts-siqa/

• New intelligent music therapy method for applications of enhancing social skills of autism children based on TL-GCN and deep learning

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-26307-3

• AI Is Conducting Mental Health Via Music Therapy That Aims For Psychological Peace And Harmony

  https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2026/01/24/ai-is-conducting-mental-health-via-music-therapy-that-aims-for-psychological-peace-and-harmony/

• West London NHS trust launches UK first portable music therapy studio

  https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/articles/west-london-nhs-trust-launches-uk-first-portable-music-therapy-studio

• The therapeutic power of bringing art to patients

  Robin Meltzer, director of engagement and communications at the Royal Free Charity, discusses the invisible therapeutic power of the arts in hospitals.

• Art’s greatest value is in building community, so invite people in. For many working in the arts, it’s the social and community aspects of their jobs that is the most compelling, as Splitpixel’s Lauren James has been finding out.

  Read more...

• The Creative Health Research Round-Up 2025 event on Wednesday 28th January 2026 brought together researchers, practitioners, and organisations to showcase and reflect on creative health research published during 2025. Led by the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) in partnership with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), this first annual round-up highlights the breadth, quality, and real-world relevance of creative health evidence across the UK.
  
  You can find out more about the event, including a recording of the presentations, and download the full report from the NCCH website here. 

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• PhD Opportunity
  Are you interested in researching accessible instruments and how they’re developed?
  This new PhD is an incredible opportunity to work at Imperial College London in partnership with The OHMI Trust and Drake Music. Find out more.

• Instrumental Music Tutor (SEND)

  Deadline:  8 February
  Location:   Lincolnshire
  Lincolnshire Music Service is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Instrumental Music Tutor with experience in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to deliver engaging music lessons in specialist settings and schools

• The Old Jet Airspace Programme - Open Call for Visual Artists

  The Airspace residency programme seeks to engage, enable and support two new visual artists with targeted professional development and creative time out at a fledgling stage of their careers. The selected artists will be offered a 6 month residency with freedom, flexibility and zero fixed outcomes. All activities take place Old Jet in East Suffolk. Deadline 15 February

Continuing professional development

• Self-Guided Courses (eLearning) Artswork Professional Development Online

  Learn safeguarding, inclusion, survey design & more anytime, anywhere with our flexible self-guided eLearning courses.

• Meet Soundabout Online!

  12 February    Online
  Join this introductory information session where you will learn more about Soundabout and find out about music and sound making opportunities, training, and resources

• Essential Safeguarding for the Creative, Cultural & Heritage Sectors Artswork Professional Development – March 2, 2026 – OnlineA comprehensive safeguarding course tailored for those working in all organisations within the creative, cultural, and heritage sectors.

• OmniMusic: Tools & Tech for Inclusive Music
  Hands-on training day to support the delivery of accessible and joyful music making sessions for Disabled people.
  
  Date: 26 February 
  
  More information about Tools & Tech

• There are a lot of events to look forwards to across 2026 in the world of Creative Health. 
  February

  11-12 February The Creative Health Exchange, Bradford 

  May

  18-22 May Creativity & Wellbeing Week

  June

  8-12 Arts & Health Research Intensive

  15-19 Healing Arts Scotland

  22-26 Healing Arts Birmingham

  dates tbc, GLAMCares conference, Birmingham

  September

  7-11 CultureAndHealth Forum, Vienna

  October

  7-9 CHWA International Conference, Barnsley 

Item desMOnthly bulletins

January 2026

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Happy New Year All! 

I hope everyone enjoyed a decent break  over the festive period and is looking forward to whatever 2026 has in store for us! The Xmas get together gave me a wonderful opportunity to catch up with a lot of you and I hope you all enjoyed the goody bags? Just a gentle reminder that if you didn’t get a T Shirt that fits you please get it back to me and let me know your size so that we can order you one that fits! 

Huge thanks to Oliver for preparing and presenting the Xmas Quiz. Other than the Bon Jovi /  Donna Summer incident (which I hope we can all put behind us now) it all went extremely well and I can honestly say it was by far the most enjoyable get together yet! 

We had some great funding news come in just before the break. We were awarded a reasonably sizeable sum from the National Lottery Awards for All which puts us on a better financial footing going into the new year. Fundraising seems to have got significantly tougher over the last year so we are especially glad to have received some generous donations over the festive period. 

In order to ward off any misinformation that may (but probably wont) be circulating, we are pursuing legal means to recover a debt from a local service provider who used our services and has subsequently refused to pay as they are claiming that the registered manager did not have the authority to arrange the sessions. We have attempted mediation but the service failed to attend so we are now needing to pursue this through the small claims court. The only argument they have put forward for not paying is that the manager did not have authority so there is absolutely no question regarding the extremely high quality of our work. 

Anyway, what with the break and having seen you all just before Xmas there isn’t much more to say so I will just end by saying a huge THANK YOU to everybody for all the  hard work you put in during 2025 and I’m very much looking forward to working with you all in 2026! 

- Gervase

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

•  Why do we stop singing when we reach secondary school?

  Why do we stop singing when we reach secondary school? - BBC News

• “The whole process left me feeling flat and empty”: With AI now threatening to make the DAW obsolete, is it finally time to stand up to the tech taking the very soul out of music-making?

  “The whole process left me feeling flat and empty”: With AI now threatening to make the DAW obsolete, is it finally time to stand up to the tech taking the very soul out of music-making? | MusicRadar

• UK audio music stream volume topped 210 billion in 2025 – but YoY growth slowed

  UK audio music stream volume topped 210 billion in 2025 – but YoY growth slowed - Music Business Worldwide

• Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy into music therapy methods using a flexibility within fidelity framework

  Frontiers | Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy into music therapy methods using a flexibility within fidelity framework

• Goodbye DCMS? Government ‘considering abolition’ of department The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) could be “abolished” with its responsibilities split between three other government departments, it has been claimed. An article published by the Sunday Times on 3 May says… Read here.

• Arts Pay 2025: Download the full report Arts Professional is delighted to share its latest Pulse research into the arts and culture sector conducted in partnership with our parent company, arts consultancy Baker Richards. This latest report – Arts Pay 2025 read here.

• Nothing Without Us: Disability in the arts and cultural sector Dr Mai Musié, senior manager at the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE), speaks to three leaders working at the intersection of research and the cultural sector about disability history, genuinely inclusive arts, and the speed of progress. Read here.

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Culture Creative Call for Artists

  For the last 20 years, Culture Creative Ltd have created 5-star light art experiences in some of the most stunning and often environmentally sensitive, heritage and landscape settings in the World. If you would like to work with them and have an idea/concept, or existing artwork for hire, that you would like to see programmed as part of their 2026 season of light trails, please visit their website, download their brief. Deadline 16 January

• Frozen Light Artist Residencies

  Frozen Light are looking for companies who make or want to make sensory work specifically for adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). You might be an artist who has never worked in sensory theatre before but wants to move into this field.  Or maybe you already make sensory theatre for children but want to start making more work for adults. Deadline 27 February

Continuing professional development

• 'The hub' > Q&A webinar with The Family Music Hub

  13 January 2026    Online
  Join this session to find out about an exciting new online training and support hub that The Family Music Hub are launching in January 2026

• The Family Music Hub online platform

  Led by a team including Sound Sense member Nicola Burke, The Family Music Hub has announced the launch a new online membership platform for anyone who includes music in their work with under 5s and their families. Launching on Monday 5 January 2026, the platform promises a rich and varied song bank, live virtual meetups, guest speakers and 'skills sprints'. It also offer bite sized, self-paced 'power-up' learning modules, and a supportive community space to connect with peers and the team. The Family Music Hub invites early years and family professionals across the UK to join the waiting list, attend a launch webinar and become part of a growing movement championing strong relationships, wellbeing and early development through music. Find out more >

• Early Years Music Conference

  9 March 2026    Skipton
  Save the date for the next Early Years Music Conference, delivered in partnership between AMP, Note Weavers and More Musiccription

December 2025

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi All 

I cant believe I’m saying this but “Merry Christmas” to you all! The year seems to have sped by faster than Sergiy Putyatov on a Fender Strat! I’m very much looking forward to seeing you all at our staff get together next week and if you had to look up who Sergiy Putyatov is then I would recommend you do a bit of revising on your music knowledge before the evenings events kick off… hint hint wink wink! 

We had a great Trustee Meeting last month. Some points that we need to make you aware of are that:

• Our Chair Amanda has been supporting us to start a “Risk Register” which looks at governance, operational, financial, external and compliance risks. This isn’t the same as the risk assessments that we do for our activities – and it’s not the most pleasant job to do - but it has been very useful at enabling us to come up with strategies to manage potential risks in the areas outlines above. If any of you would be happy to feed into this process please let me know as it would be good to get your perspectives on the practical implications of risk management. 

• We have new children’s and adults safeguarding policies! Huge thanks to Lucy Child (our designated safeguarding Trustee) who has made the necessary revisions (of which there were many). Please go to our website, scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on the link that says “Policies and Downloads” to get copies of the policies and familiarise yourselves with them. It feels like there have been some significant changes this year and as members of the Norfolk “Safer”  programme we all need to be singing from the same songbook! 

The next meeting is scheduled for the 20th January so if any of you would like me to bring anything to the Trustees please let me know at least a week before then. 

I need to ask all of you to be especially vigilant in making sure that yourselves and our participants are signing in and out of the building properly. We have been pulled up three times in the last couple of weeks regarding different keyholders not having signed out and while this may seem a trivial matter it has some major implications for Carrow House if the last keyholder leaves thinking that there is still another keyholder on site. Unity Hub are now saying they may have no choice but to implement a system of fines to organisations that fail to use the sign in /  out procedure properly as it could have a major impact on the insurance so please have a chat with me if you have any concerns / doubts etc about being able to ensure the system is used properly. 

I’m very pleased to report that we have experienced a small upturn in our fundraising activities, including a grant from the National Lottery within the last month. We have seen a change in focus in fundraising over the last year from a focus on providing unrestricted to restricted grants so it has been slightly more challenging in some respects but the last month has provided us with some reassurance that there is still a lot of interest out there in supporting our work!

See you all on Wednesday for our festive shindig!

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Listening to Music Has a Surprising Impact on Dementia Risk, Study Shows

Listening to Music Has a Surprising Impact on Dementia Risk, Study Shows : ScienceAlert

• The algorithm failed music

The algorithm failed music | The Verge

• Hidden Rhythms in Your Brain And Gut Share a Surprising Link

Hidden Rhythms in Your Brain And Gut Share a Surprising Link : ScienceAlert

• IFPI-commissioned report backs ‘bilateral’ licensing for AI music

https://musically.com/2025/12/03/ifpi-commissioned-report-backs-bilateral-licensing-for-ai-music/

• Culture sector responds to snub in ‘damp squib’ Autumn Budget Rachel Reeves’ sophomore budget has been branded a ”damp squib” as figures from across the creative industries share their disappointment with the Chancellor choosing not to adopt several hoped-for measures. Read here.

• What it means to be human: Why the arts and humanities are more important than ever. On behalf of the Midlands Arts and Humanities Futures Network¹, Professor Rachel Moseley argues for the importance of a co-ordinated approach across the education sector to secure the future of these disciplines. Read here.

• Drake Music are delighted to be working with 5 more early-career Disabled musicians on their Emergents programme. Each artist will have the opportunity to make new music and develop their creative skills with a bursary of £1000, a structured training programme, group mentoring, and more! 
  
  More information about our Emergents.

• CHIMe (Creative Health Interest Meetings) launch in Norfolk and Suffolk: 9 DecemberCHIMe (Creative Health Interest Meetings) will be an opportunity to share, connect and collaborate with the sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. The first event will feature Susannah Howard presenting on creative health in Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System. Details here.

• Working Together: read the evaluationWorking Together was an 18-month Creative Health programme (2023–2025), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and co-delivered by CHWA and GEM. It has supported six partner museums and heritage organisations to embed Creative Health practice, with an emphasis on health inequalities. Read more

• A new report from the Creative Industries Council Health and Wellbeing Forum, published with Arts Council England, says creativity should be a key part of how the UK tackles its health and wellbeing challenges.

  The report shows growing evidence that taking part in creative activities  — from music and art to dance, theatre and design — can improve mental and physical health, help prevent illness, and save the NHS money. 

  It calls for more people to have access to creative opportunities in their everyday lives and for government, health services and the creative sector to work together  to make this happen.

  Among its recommendations are:

  • More creative opportunities for children and young people to support mental health

  • A public campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of creativity

  • Better sharing of research and examples of what works

  • New training and investment to support creative practitioners in health and community settings

  You can read and download the full report here. 

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• National Festival of Making 2026: Open Call for Festival Workshops

  National Festival of Making is inviting artists, makers, creatives and facilitators to submit workshop proposals for their National Festival of Making weekend on the 4th & 5th July 2026. Deadline 08 December

• Apply for Raveningham Sculpture Trail 2026

  ‘RITUAL’ – An exploration of ritual as a universal human impulse. Artists, Sculptors, Makers, Poets, Musicians, Writers will be responding to the theme of Ritual  in 2026 and the natural space at Raveningham, thinking about the flora and fauna which lift our spirits. Deadline 23 January

Continuing professional development

• Artswork Professional Development Supporting People, Safety & Wellbeing Courses Artswork Professional Development

  Online - Interactive courses on wellbeing, trauma, behaviour, risk and safety, and supporting young people tailored for creative & cultural settings.

• Mental Health first aid with soundcastle – 5th & 12th March 2026
  Become a Mental Health First Aider with Soundcastle! Join them for this two-part series to explore many practical ways to support mental health in music education settings and gain a FAA Level 2 Award qualification in First Aid for Mental Health. Following three sold out mental health courses delivered by Soundcastle, we’re delighted to be working with them again to support more music educators getting training in Mental Health first aid.

• Buying Adaptive Musical Instruments
  Created collectively by the Inclusive Music Consortium, this free Guide highlights adapted instruments, digital innovations, prototypes and custom builds that make music more accessible for disabled musicians.
  
  Explore the guide today!

• ART // TECH // PLAY LIVE Producers’ Edition: What the T*ch?!!

  05 February 2026, 12 - 6:30pm, Cambridge, £15

  Now in its 5th year, the annual Producers’ edition of ART // TECH // PLAY LIVE explores how artists and producers are making and distributing shows and projects that engage creative technologies to deliver novel public experiences. This year, the event will focus specifically on the precarity of the pipeline that supports the progression of an art/tech idea through the R&D stages, into production and then distribution.

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi All 

I hope everyone is enjoying the unseasonably mild weather we’re having so far this month? It’s been another busy month for Musical Keys and we have even been on BBC Radio Norfolk thanks to our fantastic Trustee Alison Ridley who volunteered to be strapped to a BBC Norfolk presenter and walk along the beachfront at Great Yarmouth for their three legged walk in aid of Children in Need. We are extremely proud of Alison for representing us and she did an amazing job. You can even listen to her waxing lyrical about us on catch up here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002l9pk (she starts at around 1:54 I think). 

One of the biggest benefits of moving into our own studio is the amount of time I get to spend with those of you who are coming into the Studio on the days I’m working. I’m hoping that the increased sense of closeness and greater sense of camaraderie is shared by you all too but let me know if I’m ‘tripping you up’ by getting in the way as I realise you are all busy people. From the chats I’ve had with those of you I’ve seen, I am reassured that the venue is serving its purpose well and that you are happy working in the space, but we are always interested to hear what you have to say so please let us know of any ideas you might have for making things even better! 

I would very much like to thank you all for the efforts you have made recently in ensuring we stay on the right side of Unity Hub and Frozen Light! I am very pleased to report that it seems we are no longer the ‘bad crowd’ at Carrow House (that title has now been taken by another organisation who shall remain nameless – for now)! It has been a slow process of settling in over the last year, and there have been some ups and downs along the way, but it feels like we are starting to establish ourselves as a ‘core component’ of Carrow House now and gaining a similarly wonderful reputation here that we have always enjoyed everywhere else. 

I would very much like to thank you all for the efforts you have made recently in ensuring we stay on the right side of Unity Hub and Frozen Light! I am very pleased to report that it seems we are no longer the ‘bad crowd’ at Carrow House (that title has now been taken by another organisation who shall remain nameless – for now)! It has been a slow process of settling in over the last year, and there have been some ups and downs along the way, but it feels like we are starting to establish ourselves as a ‘core component’ of Carrow House now and gaining a similarly wonderful reputation here that we have always enjoyed elsewhere. 

We have our Trustees meeting coming up in a couple of weeks so if any of you have anything you would like to be put to the meeting please let me know and I will happily add it to the agenda. Unity Hub have let us know that there is a Social Enterprise Day happening at Carrow House on Thursday 20th November, 10am - 2pm. As far as I can see this only affects one of you using the Studio (at 12:30) but please be aware that if you are intending to pop in it will be very busy with lots of important looking people walking around (including the Lord Mayor and High Sheriff of Norwich) so it feels like there is some potential for chaos! 

• Gervase

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• 14 of the best new books for music buffs

  https://www.wallpaper.com/art/music/best-new-books-for-music-buffs

• University to suspend music and language courses

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly9zwqvn53o

• UK Government axes controversial EBacc for music education

  https://routenote.com/blog/uk-government-axes-controversial-ebacc-for-music-education

• Music and AI unite to power new mental health innovations

  https://dig.watch/updates/music-and-ai-unite-to-power-new-mental-health-innovations

• Drake Music 2025-26 Future Leaders

  The second cohort of DM’s Future Leaders programme is well underway! Funded by Youth Music, the project aims to promote inclusive practice in music-making, whilst increasing representation in the workforce by providing practical experiences in the music industry. 

  Head to our website to meet the 7 incredible musicians excited to be working with Drake Music.

• Accessible instruments: Hunaid Nagaria & Midas
  An adaptive, wearable controller that transforms any object or surface into a uniquely calibrated musical interface for users with muscle‑weakening conditions like muscular dystrophy.
  More information about Midas

• Accessible instruments: Tom Fox & Tim's Palm
  A custom-built device built to allow Disabled musician and DJ Tim Palm to perform with a greater range of control. Designed by utilising remote measurement capture, ultra-affordable touch sensing and flexible software architecture.
  More information about Tim's Palm

• The SHAPER (Scaling Health-Arts Programme: Implementation & Effectiveness Research) study in partnership with King’s College London and University College London, followed almost 200 mothers (and their babies!) over a 10-week intervention and beyond. The women were split into two groups; one experienced a singing programme, and the other joined existing activity groups like community play.
  
  Groundbreaking research showed that group singing intervention, Breathe Melodies for Mums, not only provides immediate effective support for postnatal depression, but crucially a long-lasting reduction in depressive symptoms, measured up to six months after.
  
  Read the full study in the British Journal of Psychiatry

• The National Centre for Creative Health is highlighting their journey to create change & shift structural power imbalances which drive inequity in creative health work. NCCH wants as many people to connect with creativity as possible, and  wants to better understand people’s sense of belonging. As belonging can mean different things to different people, they want to hear your voice and thoughts via some quick questions. These questions will enable a deeper understanding about how the NCCH & the wider creative health sector can become more inclusive.
  Join the conversation: https://ncch.org.uk/equity-diversity-inclusion-belonging

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Marketing & Communications Officer | Music Mark

  If you are passionate about coordinating and creating impactful campaign content, finding new ways to promote activity and engaging with existing and new audiences across music and education then we want to hear from you! As the Marketing & Communications Officer, you will be responsible for delivering Music Mark communications including writing articles for our website, creating newsletters and the planning and creation of our podcast. Find out more.

• UCL: Performing Arts and Disability: Research Opportunity
  UCL are recruiting participants for a Performing Arts Medicine project examining experiences of pain, injury and accessing healthcare via an online interview. 
  Deadline: unknown | Access: not specified
  Contact Sian Beesley: sian.beesley.21@alumni.ucl.ac.uk

• Do It Together 2026 – Call for Proposals

  In collaboration with 19 national partners, LADA invites proposals for 10 peer-to-peer professional development projects designed by artists for artists to take place across the UK between March and September 2026. Deadline 12 November Details here.

Continuing professional development

• DMLab Colchester launch: 14 November

Drake Music will launch their inaugral DMLab programme in Colchester in November, with our partners CLIP. The session will be relaxed and informal. Find out more information.

Date: Friday 14 November
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Lewis Gardens, Highstreet, Essex, CO1 1JH

Access: Step-free access, accessible parking outside venue, accessible toilets, hearing loop, breaks

• Brass Band Week Project Officer

Deadline:  17 November
Location:   Remote
Supporting the planning and delivery of Brass Band Week 2026, this freelance opportunity is ideal for a freelancer with some experience working on arts and culture or heritage projects. Details here.

Get your free ticket

• Musicians Without Borders is collaborating with Leeds School of Arts to present a five-day Welcome Notes Training in January 2026 for facilitators and co-creators working in community music and performing arts. The training is designed to build 'Music Leaders' who can confidently design and lead workshops that foster inclusion, connection, and healing. Participants will explore principles such as safety, equality, nonviolence, and the interaction of music with the nervous system. They will also gain experience in developing sessions tailored to vulnerable populations. Full information is available at www.musicianswithoutborders.org.

• Sing to Beat Parkinson's Online Training Programme

  8 - 16 November    Online
  Sing to Beat Parkinson's will be running their annual introductory online training programme in November over Zoom. Details here.

• Intergenerational Music Sessions - A discussion

  11 November    Online
  Come and share your experiences of intergenerational music groups at this Note Weavers session hosted by Georgina Roberts. Details here.

• Sound Sense Gathering

  12 November    Online
  Join Sound Sense for the November online Gathering, which will have the theme of Early Years music. Details here.

• MEC Seminar: Where Are We Now? Race, Music, and the Future of Education

  27 November     Online
  The Music Education Council invites you its our latest seminar, bringing together leading voices from music education and the music industry to reflect on the urgent question: Where are we now on race and representation? Details here.

• Help Musicians mentoring network

  Co-Pilot is theHelp Musicians Musicians’ Mentoring Network that supports musicians with their development by pairing them with an experienced industry mentor.

  Navigating the creative, logistical, financial and emotional pressures that come with being a musician can make sustaining a career in the industry incredibly challenging. Co-Pilot helps musicians to take the next step in their careers by matching them with an experienced music professional, who can share their expertise to help talented creators focus, grow and thrive. You can apply to join Co-Pilot either a mentor or a mentee.Find out more >

• Collusion's ART // TECH // PLAY LIVE: Community wellbeing

  20 November at Anglia Ruskin University, 6-8:30pm

  This edition of ART // TECH // PLAY LIVE shines a light on artists whose projects use digital tools in imaginative ways to examine and nurture both the emotional and physical health of communities. From thought-provoking artworks to experimental processes, the talks will open up new perspectives on how technology can help us connect, care, and thrive together. Details here.

ItemMUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all

Things have certainly got busier over the last month and I have been seeing a lot more of you coming into the Studio which has been lovely! The number of referrals coming in has seen a significant upturn over the last couple of months, especially for the various groups that we are currently running (so much so that we are having to consider starting additional groups to cope with the demand). I believe this is a reflection of the hard work you have all been putting in and the hugely positive effect this has on our reputation as a charity so thank you all - and I hope you are as proud of yourselves as we are of you!

Hopefully you will all have noticed the rebranding bits and bobs around the place – and on the website? Everyone has been very complimentary, but Oliver is keen to try to find anything that still has the old brand and logo on it so keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you find anything! We are in the process of ordering new ‘merch’ so there will be prizes for the first ones to spot any of the old branding!

Sam, the Finance Committee and myself have been busy trying to get last years accounts published, but unfortunately there have been some delays due to errors which our amazing Treasurer Steve picked up on. We are now just waiting for the accountants to sign off on the final version.

Fundraising has been ‘ticking along’ and we are closely monitoring the situation as there is a general feeling amongst many organisations that times are getting tougher. We have certainly seen a change over the last 12 months from the successes we experienced in attracting unrestricted income to a more cautious approach form funders who now seem to have switched strategies to prefer restricted grants over unrestricted. This does however, provide us with opportunities to explore new projects that we can apply for funding for so please keep coming to us with your ideas – we may not always be successful in gaining the funding for them, but we will always try our best!

Our amazing Trustee Lucy Child has done a fantastic job of updating several of our policies and procedures. These are due to ‘go live’ over the next few weeks after being ratified by the Board and we will let you know when we have put them on the website for general consumption. Can I ask you all to make sure that you have read through them as soon as possible after they have been released? The top priorities will be the children’s safeguarding policy and the safeguarding adults policy, but Lucy has also revised the whistleblowing policy, the complaints policy, anti-bullying policy and devised new guidance for partnership working. We are also currently in the process of revising the finance policy but we don’t have an ETA for that on yet! Could I also ask you let me know if there are any of our policies / procedures that you have come across that you believe need updating – or any that you haven’t seen that you think we should have in place? I realise policies and procedures may not float your boat, but they are an essential part of making sure we comply with relevant legislation and protecting everyone from potential harm!

- Gervase

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Musicians’ Brains Show Remarkable Resistance to Pain

https://neurosciencenews.com/musician-pain-brain-29746/

• Five opportunities for songwriters in October 2025

https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/five-opportunities-for-songwriters-october-2025

• Spotify founder Daniel Ek to step down as chief executive

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rv35xp07lo

• Music therapy charity recruits to board as it seeks better health care integration

https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/faces/music-therapy-charity-recruits-to-board-as-it-seeks-better-health-care-integration

• AEG finds consumers prioritise live music despite economic uncertainly

https://accessaa.co.uk/aeg-finds-consumers-prioritise-live-music-despite-economic-uncertainly/

• Drake Music's 2024-25 Accessible Instrument Development Fund grantees, Tom Fox and Hunaid Nagaria, have recently documented the journeys of their accessible music-making projects. Launching in the coming weeks, make sure to check the Drake Music website to access the blogs.

• Reema Ali is a writer and the founder of Letters Unsent Press, an independent imprint devoted to the words we carry but rarely say. Her work moves through grief, identity, memory, and the quiet weight of unfinished conversations.

  Letters Unsent began as a personal practice, an attempt to give shape to what had no place. What started in silence became a space that now holds the voices of a growing community. It has become a quiet rebellion against silence, an invitation to write what never made it to the page.

  Reema’s writing is quiet, precise, and emotionally anchored. She believes truth doesn’t need perfection to matter, and that some letters still hold power, even if they’re never sent.  

  Here are a few pieces of her writing:

  The City Remembers

  The Ghosts of August

• The National Centre for Creative Health is highlighting their journey to create change & shift structural power imbalances which drive inequity in creative health work. NCCH wants as many people to connect with creativity as possible, and  wants to better understand people’s sense of belonging. As belonging can mean different things to different people, they want to hear your voice and thoughts via some quick questions. These questions will enable a deeper understanding about how the NCCH & the wider creative health sector can become more inclusive.
  Join the conversation: https://ncch.org.uk/equity-diversity-inclusion-belonging

• UK & Ireland State of the sector survey – open till 31 October 2025

  Things are moving fast in creative health – and all around it. We would be very grateful if you could share information about your work with us so that we can better advocate for your priorities. This information guides everything we do, and all of your contributions and the information you share with us will be anonymous.
  
  By filling in the survey you can also enter a prize draw for £250! 👛
  
  This is a partnership between the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, the Wales Arts, Health & Wellbeing Network, Arts, Culture, & Wellbeing Scotland, Arts Care (Northern Ireland), the Northern Ireland Creative Health Network, Réalta, and London Arts and Health. Funded by Arts Council England.

  Read more

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• UCL: Performing arts and Disability: Research opportunity
  UCL are recruiting participants for a Performing Arts Medicine project examining experiences of pain, injury and accessing healthcare via an online interview. 

  Contact Sian Beesley: sian.beesley.21@alumni.ucl.ac.uk

• Saffron: Seeds of Change: Creating Communities of Care
  Online panel discussion in response to the widescale humanitarian crises and injustices - a three-part series of workshops and discussions at the intersection of music and activism.
  
  Date: 27 October 
  
  More information about Seeds of Change

• This New Ground: Call out for Learning Disabled artists
  £2000 fee for artists to perform in a Disabled-led arts festival in Portsmouth in May 2026.
  
  Deadline: 3 November | Access: alt formats available + access budget contact info@thisnewground.com
  
  More information about this call out at This New Ground

• Paid research opportunity: musicians with autism

  Are you an autistic musician aged 18 or over?  Would you like to help more autistic children and young people get access to music education? Then please consider joining the research steering group for a one-year, AHRC-funded project:'Musical Connections: nurturing musical cultures in autism resource bases across the UK through participatory action research’. The project is a partnership between Live Music Now and the University of South Wales, and the Lead Researcher is Sound Sense member Dr Beth Pickard.
   

  The researchers are eager to learn from autistic musicians with a range of musical experiences and cultural, racial and gender identities. There are spaces available for three musicians on the steering group, who will prepare for and attend four online meetings between September 2025 and June 2026, with a fee of £125 for each meeting. The deadline for applications is Monday 22 September. Find out more >

Continuing professional development

• The Health Equity Network Third Annual National Conference will take place on 9 October 2025 in Liverpool. Building on the momentum of our first two conferences, this year we will welcome 200 participants for a focused, high-impact experience. With over 6,000 members across the UK, the Health Equity Network continues to grow as a powerful collective. This year’s conference offers a unique opportunity for members to connect, share their work, and lead conversations that strengthen the social movement for health equity.

  Register here

• Research Short: Women Transforming Classical Music

  Kerry Bunkhall, Research Manager for Music Mark, speaks to Laura Hamer about her new free, online, 6-hour course, produced by The Open University, Women Transforming Classical Music. The course aims to support performers and classical music ensembles and organisations to diversify their repertoire by programming more music by women composers (historical and contemporary).

  Read the article

• Creative Roots online session: 22 OctoberAn online forum from Small Things Creative Projects for artists, creatives and cultural workers that meets four times a year to explore ideas around arts, imagination, creativity and Permaculture, and the way that these things can be used to develop regenerative cultures. Read more

• Join us for Community Music Now & Next,  our vibrant, one-day learning and networking event for music practitioners hosted by The Music Works in Gloucester on Saturday 18 October.
  
  The two-part programme includes talks, workshops, activities and performances, as well as plenty of time to meet and network with community music colleagues from all around the UK. 
  
  We’d love to see you there - come be part of the conversation shaping the future of community music!

  Book your tickets on Eventbrite

• Sing to Beat Parkinson's Online Training Programme

  8 - 16 November    Online
  Sing to Beat Parkinson's will be running their annual introductory online training programme in November over Zoom. Details here. description

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Dear Team,

I hope everyone is well and has enjoyed themselves over the Summer. It was lovely to catch up with so many of you at our staff gathering a couple of weeks ago. It was Oliver’s idea to have it in the conservatory and I need to grudgingly concede that it made the evening a bit more special than it would have been in the studio. Extra special thanks to Katja and Chris for their fantastic performances – it worked so well in that setting and provided a wonderful demonstration of the incredible ability they have to create beautiful music that utterly fills both space and time with their skill, inspiration and ingenuity. Huge thanks again!

Also – big thanks to all of you for taking the time to write down what Musical Keys means to you all. I have sorted through the responses and I was completely overwhelmed by how much the charity means to you all. I still need to find a way of representing the data that allows that importance to shine through, but there are some wonderful quotes that I have already incorporated into a couple of reports so your time and efforts are very much appreciated!

The saga of the Carrow House building access continues unabated and there have been some important changes recently. Building Manager Paul has now left and a new part time caretaker (Mick) has been recruited. Unfortunately, he'll only be on duty from 8.30am to 2pm, Monday to Friday and will be responsible for cleaning NUH areas, building maintenance and event set up/down. He is contactable on the same number that Paul had - 07403 240908 and will have access to helpdesk@norwichunityhub.co.uk if you need anything building related.

As far as we are aware Rin continues to be on site 9am to 3pm, Sat and Sun. The unity Hub are currently interviewing for a part time admin assistant and hope to have the successful applicant started by the end of September. Their hours will be 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday and they will be based at reception. We are being told that this means there will be someone onsite to open up from 8.30am and lock up by 6pm, Monday to Friday. Whilst this sounds like a step in the right direction, I’m not sure what the contingency plans are for sickness or leave days so it doesn’t feel like the watertight solution we want quite yet!

We are very close to publishing our 2024/25 accounts and I am happy to report that the charity remains on a relatively financially secure footing! Although fundraising is undoubtedly challenging at the moment, we have a reasonable reserves pot which we can call on if needed and Oliver has done an excellent job of maintaining our commissioned work at ‘better than expected’ levels which I think reflects incredibly well on you all.

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Album helps mental health patients get creative

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clydyxl1w65o

• Non-profit collective plans festival to help grassroots live music circuit

  https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/sep/02/non-profit-collective-launches-festival-save-uk-live-music-scene

• Could Mozart Change Your Microbes?

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/mood-by-microbe/202508/could-mozart-change-your-microbes

• AI tunes into music for healing purposes

  https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202508/29/WS68b0d990a3108622abc9db46.html

• Fiona Moon’s one-woman Fringe show explores the shame, pain and grief of a neurodivergent life alongside a tapestry of furious stimming, facts, audience participation, and a small pink squishy brain companion. Review by Oren Shoesmith. Audio read by Rabindranath X Bhose. Listen here.

• How does ADHD affect a musician's performance?
  Opportunity to contribute to a research study from a University of Birmingham student.
  
  Deadline: October | Access: audio version provided, contact cec614@student.bham.ac.uk
  
  Complete the survey now

• ART // TECH // PLAY LIVE: Performing arts & AI

  Date: 01 October 2025 6pm, Stage Two, Norwich Theatre

  How is artificial intelligence shaping the way we create, perform, and experience live art? Expect engaging discussion, interactive activities, and brilliant presentations from creatives examining AI through their work. Whether you’re a convert or a skeptic, we can’t wait to see you there! Full details.

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• 2025-26 Accessible Instrument Development Seed Funding

  Are you a musician, maker, or technologist with a passion for accessible music-making? Head to Drake Music website for more information.

• Emerging music leaders bursaries 

  AMP Early Years and SEND Networksare offering an opportunity for four emerging music leaders to undertake a training programme with the support of a bursary. This development opportunity is ideal for a music practitioner looking to develop their skills and confidence as a SEND or Early Years music leader.
     Enthusiasm and commitment to developing musical leadership skills will be prioritised in bursary recipients - you do not need to already have expertise in these areas. The application deadline is Monday 8 September. Find out more >

• RNS Moves at Kings Place, London: Four Movements
  RNS Moves brings together Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians to create bold, boundary-breaking music. Together, they are pioneering a new style of inclusive music-making with improvisation and experimentation at it's heart.
  
  Deadline: 21 September | Access: access scheme, accessible seating, break out rooms, contact info@kingsplace.co.uk
  
  More information about RNS Moves

• Creative UK - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group: open to applications

  Seeking up to 8 individuals with experience, skills and knowledge that complement existing advisory groups members, to guide them on improving their reach, relevance, and impact in support of communities that are underrepresented in the cultural and creative industries. Details here. Deadline 19 September

• NNF Artist Commission - Your Town, My Town, Our Town

  NNF are looking for a socially engaged artist/s to work in Swaffham over 18 months as part of their project Your Town, My Town, Our Town. The artist/s can work across any artform but must work closely with the children and young people of Swaffham to shape the projects, creating engaging artist outputs which aim to improve the cultural lives of the children and young people in the town. Fee £18,000. Inclusive of all fees, expenses and materials, with an additional £5,000 for production and delivery costs held by Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Details here Deadline 15 September

Continuing professional development

• Bamboozle’s Online Training Series.
  6 Oct 2025 - 1 Dec 2025

  We’ve been working with learning disabled students for over 30 years. Our approach is designed to help students engage and use their voice – however they communicate.

  “Children who would not usually indicate independent exploration actively engaged in the session. Vocalisations, words and phrases were spoken that are rarely heard in the classroom. I was overwhelmed by the response from our children.” – Josie McGrath. Teacher, Priory Woods School.

  Join our live online training series which includes:

  – Live demonstrations

  – Discussion opportunities

  – Time to apply and reflect on new strategies

  The two courses will be running this Autumn are:

  • Ways to engage your learning disabled students (an introduction to the Bamboozle methodology and the results it achieves)

  • How you can reduce challenging behaviour and enable your autistic learners to be calmer

  These courses are designed for anyone who works with learning disabled young people – be that teaching staff or freelance practitioners. Courses are delivered live via Teams with our experienced Education & Training team leading the sessions. Each course runs from 4 – 5.30pm weekly for four weeks.

  Find out more about both courses here: https://bamboozletheatre.co.uk/event_category/online-courses/

• Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education Episode 7 - Environmental Sustainability

  Join us as we explore why the music education sector has in important part to play in tackling the climate crisis. Our guests - Ruth Roberts, a Senior Leader at Kent Music, Dr Ross Purves, Associate Professor of Music Education at University College London, and Hannah Mears-Young, Programme Manager for the National Youth Folk Ensemble - dive into the barriers that may prevent music educators from making more sustainable choices, and highlight positive changes already happening across the sector. Find out more.

  Listen now

• Understanding Young People with SEND: A Creative Participation Workshop

  Discover creative ways to engage and understand young people with SEND in this interactive, youth-focused participation workshop.

  Join SEND Participation Officers, for a hands-on, creative training session designed to deepen your understanding of inclusive engagement with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

  Full details and to book, here.

• Ripple Early Years Arts Symposium

  13 September     Great Yarmouth
  Join Magic Acorns for an interdisciplinary gathering for extravagant ideas about art and people under three. Full details here.Item description

August 2025

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi Team!  

I hope everyone is well and happy and enjoying the slightly disappointing Summer? It's been a busy month again despite the schools breaking up so hopefully you’re all going to be able to get some rest and recuperation soon! 

Don’t forget it’s the whole team meeting on Wednesday 20th August, 18.30 - 20.30, we’ll have a few short performances from some of our practitioners and some informal catching up, alongside the usual food and drinks. It’ll be a great opportunity to see everyone and to hopefully enjoy some warm weather (we’ve booked the Orangery - fancy!) so please do your best to make it along.

For those that missed my email about the ‘out of hours’ use of Carrow House the TLDR version is: 

“Unfortunately we are going to have to pause ‘out of hours’ use of the studio
as the process for locking up is so unreliable. This means that we can only
use the studio at times when Unity Hub staff are on site.” 

Carrow House have now responded by making significant changes to the entry / exit procedures for the building and by changing the door codes (which we are now NOT permitted to give out to anyone other than staff or volunteers). 

If you lead any sessions at Carrow House please contact either myself or Oliver asap so that we can give you the instructions for getting in and out of the building / studio as the changes WILL affect you! 

With the increased use of the Studio we have embedded a studio calendar on the usual Team page here, can I ask that everyone who uses the studio leaves it in the same state they found it in? If there are breakages / spillages or other incidents that you have not been able to rectify please make sure you let us know as soon as possible so that we can take action. We have found some broken instruments, and other broken bits and bobs and I have recently been unsuccessful in getting the stains out of the carpet using either my carpet shampooer or the carpet stain remover aerosols so the quicker you let us know something needs sorting the better chance we have of sorting it properly!  

Oliver has installed new acoustic panels in the studio (with more yet to be installed) and I am trying to find somewhere that does the solid room partitions so that we can partition off the drum kit. I’m slightly worried that the fixings for the acoustic panels aren’t as ‘fixey’ as we need them to be and that anyone with some curiosity might be able to cause havoc by pulling the panels off the wall with ease (I’m looking sideways at you Saturday Group). My worry is that the fixings themselves have sharp edges that could potentially cause harm if they were exposed so I’m asking you all to be especially vigilant and if any of your participants get a little curious about the panels please try to divert them away! If that doesn’t work and the panels are pulled off please make sure that you let us know it has happened and try to stick the panels back up asap before anyone manages to hurt themselves on the sharp edges! 

We’ve had a nice response to the 2025 staff satisfaction survey but we’d really love to hear from more of you. The survey is quick and anonymous and is more helpful to us than you think - please fill in the survey here, thank you!

I attended the Norman Lamb Coalition meeting this month and although it was nice to see what they were all up to I was a bit disappointed that there don’t seem to be any funds that we are able to apply to currently. I will keep my ear to the ground and if anything comes up I will of course jump at it! 

Gervase

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Everyone loves music but nobody loves music apps. It’s time to leave Spotify

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/aug/01/everyone-loves-music-but-nobody-loves-music-apps-its-time-to-leave-spotify

• How Music Therapy Rivals Opioids in Pain Relief

How Music Therapy Rivals Opioids in Pain Relief

• Study reveals distinct music habits among young adults with ADHD symptoms

https://www.psypost.org/study-reveals-distinct-music-habits-among-young-adults-with-adhd-symptoms

• The Key Changes Rocking the Music Industry in 2025

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/music-industry-streaming-live-concerts-ai-1236476625

• HOPELINE247 is a 24-hour suicide prevention helpline and is staffed by trained suicide prevention advisers, who work with young people and anybody concerned for a young person to help keep them safe from suicide. It’s a free and confidential call, text, and email service, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year (weekends and bank holidays included). More details here.

• With the reorganisation of local government, devolution and a shifting health landscape all on the horizon, Norfolk’s statutory landscape is in the process of undergoing huge change. For this month’s EC comment piece, NCAN explore the proposed changes at local level and considers the ongoing impact on Norfolk VCSE organisations.

  For anyone working in the sector, it’s almost impossible to avoid the topics of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. The upcoming reshaping of local services and structure is a significant change for the region, spanning across departments and organisations, with several competing unitary models up for consideration. Read more here.

• Future Leaders: End of cohort one
  Over 7 months, Drake Music worked with young Disabled musicians to promote inclusive, accessible practice in music-making. Georgina Spray and Vinícius Motta marked the conclusion of the first year with a special blog post published on Drake Music’s website. Sarah Bayley also created a handy wellbeing resource guide for Disabled musicians.

• Creative Health in England: The Future of the Sector

  Creative health is gaining momentum across England’s Mayoral and Combined Authorities (MCAs), moving beyond small-scale pilots into regional strategies. With growing recognition of the role the arts can play in tackling health inequalities, a new network of cultural and health leaders is collaborating to embed creative approaches into wider public policy. Though health isn’t their direct remit, MCAs influence key social factors like housing, employment, and community development. Backed by Arts Council England, the network is developing shared priorities—from advocacy to sustainable funding—to integrate creative health more deeply. The aim is systemic change, not side projects, grounded in collaboration and long-term impact.
  In this article written by Laura Bailey, the manager of the newly established Mayoral Authorities Creative Health Network, for Arts Professional, she highlights the opportunities of embedding creative health in systems and how it speaks to the 10-Year Health Plan through the pivotal role of the MCAs.

• The Government’s newly launched 10-Year Health Plan for England, unveiled on 3rd July, signals a significant shift in how health and wellbeing will be supported over the coming decade. Although the plan does not explicitly mention creative health, its focus on prevention, mental health, community-based care, and workforce innovation creates a powerful opportunity for the arts and culture sector to play a central role in the future of health.

  A Strong Alignment with Creative Health Approaches

  The plan highlights several key areas that naturally align with creative health practices, offering promising pathways for collaboration and innovation:

  Prevention at the Core:
  A central theme of the plan is the emphasis on preventative care. This opens the door for increased use of arts, culture, and creative activity in supporting mental and physical health, particularly through social prescribing and community-based initiatives that reduce isolation, promote connection, and improve quality of life.

  Boosting Mental Health Support:
  The plan calls for stronger community-based mental health services, recognising the need for more accessible, non-clinical support options. This presents an opportunity to embed creative interventions—such as art, music, performance, and storytelling—into everyday mental health care.

  Shifting to Localised, Community-Led Care:
  By prioritising integrated, local care models, the plan creates space for artists, creative practitioners, and cultural organisations to work within healthcare settings and contribute to place-based health outcomes.

  Workforce Development and Innovation:
  The plan commits to training healthcare staff in new, innovative approaches, valuing creativity and flexibility. This aligns with programmes like Performing Medicine, which have demonstrated how creative techniques can enhance staff wellbeing, communication, and leadership.

  Cross-Sector Collaboration Encouraged:
  The Health Plan emphasises the importance of cross-system partnerships, including collaboration with mayors, local authorities, and voluntary sector organisations. This presents a timely opportunity for the cultural sector to work alongside health partners to deliver joint prevention strategies and strengthen community resilience.

  Unlocking the Potential of Creative Health

  As the health system evolves, the creative and cultural sectors are uniquely positioned to help deliver on the plan’s ambitions. By working in partnership with health and care services, creative health can support communities to live healthier, more connected lives—and contribute to a more sustainable and human-centred future for health in England.

• Ripple Early Years Arts Symposium

  13 September     Great Yarmouth
  Join Magic Acorns for an interdisciplinary gathering for extravagant ideas about art and people under three. Full details here.

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Drake Music 2025-26 Emergent Artists
  Are you an early-career musician aged 18+, identify as Disabled and are based in England? Head to our
  website now for more information.
  Expressions of interest close 20 August. Alternate formats available.

• Drake Music 2025-26 Accessible Instrument Development Seed Funding

  Are you a musician, maker, or technologist with a passion for accessible music-making? Head to our website for more information.
  Expressions of interest close 31 August. Alternate formats available.

• National Arts in Hospitals Network (NAHN) Co-ordinator

  The NAHN Co-ordinator will support the network and help it grow. You will support the directors in the management and administration of the network, working closely with NHS Charities Together staff including The Member Events and Partnerships Manager and Membership Officer.
  Closing Date: 13th August
  Location: Flexible – home working and at events
  Hours: 11 hours per week
  Fee: £30,000 total (£250 per day, 1.5 days per week)
  Contract: Freelance position, 24 months
  You can read the full job description and the application process here.

• DMLab National Coordinator

  Deadline:  22 July
  Location:   Remote
  Drake Music is looking for a DMLab National Coordinator to manage a national programme which combines technology, music and accessibility. Full details here.

Continuing professional development

• The TALK Centre runs free training for anyone working with children and young people in Norfolk and Waveney. We have our own trainers who offer a variety of different courses, as well as hosting regular training from local and national organisations. We’ve got upcoming training sessions for:

  Mental Health Champion Training

  29th September/6th October/13th October - Online

  1st/8th/15th October (SLT) - Online

  7th/14th/21st November - Online

  17th & 24th November - Norwich

  Book here.

• Remote Rhythms: Amp Up Your Zoom Sessions

  14 July    Online
  Join Soundabout for a dynamic session designed to help music facilitators and practitioners deliver engaging and interactive music sessions via Zoom . Book here.

• Music with Young Children: Why, how and what if?

  25 August    Online
  This Early Years Music Scotland workshop offers an opportunity to think about some key questions that underpin and drive our work. Book here.

• Distressed not Difficult: Supporting Distressed Behaviour in Children

  1 September    Online
  Join Early Years Music Scotland to look at translating the science of child development and self-regulation into a simple practice based model. Book here.

• Sing to Beat Parkinson's Online Training Programme

  8 - 16 November    Online
  Sing to Beat Parkinson's will be running their annual introductory online training programme in November over Zoom. Book here.

• Sound Connections has announced a range of opportunities including funding, mentoring and training to support professionals and organisations to enhance your practice, explore new ideas and support your development.
     Applications are now open for 2025-26, for the following streams: Innovate (funding for practitioners and grassroots organisations), Activate (funding for Music Hubs), Emerging Music Leader Trainee Scheme, Mentoring Programme, and Associates Training Programme.Find out more and apply >

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all 

I hope you have all been able to keep cool in the heat? For those that haven’t yet seen it-  I bought a small air conditioning unit for the studio as the morning sun was turning it into a blast furnace! 

Just in case neither me nor Oliver are around to provide the instructions : To operate the air con unit you need to jam the convoluting hose out of the window (which can be a bit tricky as the window doesn’t open as wide as it needs to so you need to sort of jam it in) as that is where it blows out the hot air. Then I draw the curtain all the way over to the corner that the unit is in and drape the heavy curtain over the hose to create a ‘seal’ so that all the hot air doesn’t get blown back into the studio again! After that you can turn the unit on and it will automatically start to cool the room down. Bear in mind that it takes a while to get the room to a bearable temperature so its best to turn it on as soon as you arrive on site! 

In other news we have recruited two new volunteers; Amy - who some of you may have already met - will be joining the Saturday Group team, and John will be supporting Sound Affects. If any of you require support within groups and sessions please let me know so that we can recruit and place the volunteers accordingly. Similarly, if existing volunteers are looking to do more then please just let us know.

The Trustees had their away day in June and the feedback was that we are doing well in achieving our charitable aims and objectives and the charity is thriving! This mirrors the feedback that we get from our clients and so I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU and WELL DONE to all of you who represent us so well. 

I’m now (unbelievably) in my fourth year with Musical Keys and each year around this time it feels like things calm down a little as the schools, individuals and staff all take their holidays. I have spoken to a few of you about your plans for the summer, but I do hope that you will all be able to get a little break to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries! We look forward to seeing you all on the 20th August in the Carrow House Orangery for the next whole team get together - it will be a very social meeting so please try your best to make it :)

Gervase

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• “We're talking about measurable increases in dopamine, reduced anxiety, and better emotional resilience”: Why making music is actually good for you

  https://www.musicradar.com/artists/were-talking-about-measurable-increases-in-dopamine-reduced-anxiety-and-better-emotional-resilience-why-making-music-is-actually-good-for-you

• Volunteers use the universal language of music to soothe stressed shelter animals

  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/houston-denver-new-jersey-ed-sheeran-research-b2776401.html

• WeAre8 Announces 8fest: The World’s First Social Media Music Festival, curated by industry insiders

  https://www.weare8.com/post/weare8-announces-8fest

• BRIT Trust Diaries: Emma Banks reflects on her first year as chair of Nordoff And Robbins

  https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/brit-trust-diaries-emma-banks-reflects-on-her-first-year-as-chair-of-nordoff-and-robbins/092198  

• Creativity and Children and Young People’s Mental Health Roundtable

  At the latest session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Creative Health, chaired by Dr Simon Opher MP, experts from across research, policy, practice, and lived experience came together to highlight the critical role of arts, culture, and creativity in supporting the mental health of children and young people.

  With the escalating crisis in youth mental health, contributors strongly reinforced the urgent need to embed access to creative, artistic, and cultural opportunities in the lives of all children and young people. The voices present added powerful support to the APPG’s call for systemic change—ensuring creativity is a core component of mental health and wellbeing strategies in our health systems and communities.

  Read the report here.

• Arts Council England's resources for Creative and Cultural Leaders

  This Arts Council England’s webpage provides a curated selection of helpful links and resources and a range of trusted, specialist organisations. It is designed to support leaders working across the creative and cultural sectors by offering access to blogs, toolkits, case studies, and a wide array of opportunities for professional growth, support, and peer learning.

  World of Work Report
  In 2024, Arts Council England collaborated with Clore Leadership on Leadership Now—a series of assemblies created to explore the changing landscape of work for cultural leaders.

  Clore Leadership’s accompanying report reflects a growing sense of fatigue brought on by complex, overlapping challenges and transformations. It also underscores the need to “dream anew,” encouraging a renewed vision for a vibrant and sustainable cultural sector. In response, we’ve committed—alongside Clore and other sector partners—to nurturing the skills, confidence, compassion, and ambition that leaders at all levels need to thrive, and to lift up those around them as they lead.

  This page was created as part of that commitment. It serves as a new digital resource to connect leaders with a wide range of support materials—whether developed by the Arts Council or by expert external providers. They aim to ensure that cultural leaders are well-informed and equipped to access support, enhance their practice, and grow within a learning community.

• Campaign for the Arts Petition Calling for Continued Investment in Culture

  The Campaign for the Arts presented a petition to the UK Government, backed by more than 37,000 individuals from all 650 parliamentary constituencies, urging the Chancellor to maintain public funding for arts and culture in the upcoming Spending Review.

  The Spending Review, due to conclude on Wednesday 11 June, will determine government spending plans for daily operations through to 2028–29 and capital investments until 2029–30. The petition appeals for sustained financial support for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), as well as for schools and local authorities over that period.

  The scale and reach of the petition reflect a widespread public concern for the future of the UK’s cultural and creative landscape and a clear call for continued government commitment. It argues that further cuts to cultural funding would be counterproductive, putting at risk the essential work of artists and creative institutions, and undermining the Government’s own vision of a “decade of national renewal.”

  Jack Gamble, Director of the Campaign for the Arts, stated:

  “Every MP in Parliament represents someone who has added their voice to this call. It’s a powerful sign that people across the UK care deeply about the arts and want to see them properly funded. The Government pledged a ‘decade of national renewal’, but that goal is out of reach without strong support for culture. Artists and cultural organisations inspire us, connect communities, and drive economic growth. Now is the time to back them.”

  You can read more here.

• An arts-rich education in England

  In response to the current government review of curriculum and assessment in England, the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) has shared a briefing note that is designed to capture key information about the review, and to be used "to have conversations with colleagues or policy makers about the changes we need to see". 

  The briefing note summarises a number of points including the benefits of studying Arts subjects, reflections on Arts subjects in relation to enrichment and a knowledge-rich curriculum, and the ‘Arts entitlement gap’ (removing barriers to opportunity). Read the Briefing Note here >

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Creative Health Summer School

London Arts and Health is the sector support organisation in London, working to support health and cultural workers across the capital.

Surveying our members we can see clearly that members want training and support around key areas in creative health to ensure they are building out programmes and projects that address health inequities and are equitable in delivery. We know that the sector faces difficulties with funding, evaluation and also relationships with ever-changing health systems. Supporting freelancers, creative health workers and health colleagues advocating for this work is important and timely.

Our creative health summer intensive will bring together 25 participants a day to engage in four key themes across the creative health sector, with the aim to expand knowledge, connect people together with each other and inspire and spark new ideas in creative health.

Date: 14 - 17 July 2025
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2A
Time: 10 am - 2 pm daily, bar Thursday where the session will finish at 4pm for the week-long cohort.

More details and to sign up.

• Music and Sound Facilitators

Deadline:  1 February 2026
Location:   Oxford and Oxfordshire
Oxford Contemporary Music (OCM) and Music at Oxford (MaO) are seeking to expand and diversify their networks of music facilitators, for developing and delivering their learning and participation programmes. Full details.

Continuing professional development

• A&HH The Support Hub 

  Arts & Health Hub is a London based not-for-profit organisation that supports artists exploring health and wellbeing in their creative practice.
  
  From 2023 - 2026 Arts & Health Hub will be running a project called the Support Hub which is a range of support programmes for artists. Open calls for round 3 are now live to apply to. The deadline is July 6 2025 2024 @ 5pm. 
  
  Click the links below to get details about and to apply to the specific opportunity:
  Artists’ peer to peer mental health groups
  Peer to peer professional development groups.
  Reflective supervision support for participatory artists.
  One-to-one mentoring for early career artists.
  
  If you have questions about the opportunities please read the Frequently Asked Questions at the above links before emailing us at info@artsandhealthhub.org.

• Leadership Training: Toolkit for Mental Health-Inclusive Group Singing: June–November, online

  A free 8-session webinar series, facilitated by Dr. Yoon Irons, Associate Professor of Arts for Health and Wellbeing at the University of Derby. Details here.

• Young people, mental health and museums: 8 July, onlineThis Kids in Museums event will explore how museums can support young people to maintain good mental health and a positive sense of wellbeing. It will include case studies from Heritage Doncaster, Hampshire Cultural Trust and the Holburne Museum, as well as GLAM Cares on the importance of staff wellbeing. Sign up here.

• Chiltern Shares: Managing the Day-to-Day Practicalities

  5 August    Online
  This Chiltern Music Therapy training session will explore the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that help keep your practice professional, safe, and manageable - whatever stage you're at in your career. Details here.

• Wellbeing and mental health toolkit 

  One of Drake Music's 2024/25 Future Leaders, Sarah Bayley, has created an extensive resource focused around supporting mental health and wellbeing. As well as a varied selection of information around general wellbeing, Sarah has also compiled some specific resources from across the music industry, featuring different types of support available online, and resources specifically for visually impaired, deaf and neurodivergent users. Explore the resources here >

MUSICAL KEYS NEWS

Hi all!

I hope everyone has had a good month? I’ve managed to catch up with a few of you recently which has been lovely, but I realise there are also quite a few that I haven’t seen for a while so my apologies!

Oliver tells me that the staff meeting went well a couple of weeks ago, and that you gave some great feedback on the new logo. We are hoping to get some more news on that after the Trustees Awayday next week so watch this space! I also heard the presentation from Frazer Merrick from CLIP ( https://www.clipsoundandmusic.uk ) went really well and provided some useful reflections on how we might approach our work going forward. I’m really sorry to have missed out on the evening as it sounds like it was really useful, but I am definitely going to be there for the next one!

We have seen a slight pick up in our fundraising activities since the beginning of April having experienced a predicted lull in activity between Christmas and April. It seems that many of the funds we apply to focus their donations to coincide with Christmas or the beginning of the new financial year,  so the period between Christmas and April is always a quiet time despite our best efforts! Anyway, the upshot is that the vast majority of our projects are in a relatively good financial position heading into the year ahead, and those that are on the lower side have applications pending so the charity continues to thrive!

The Trustees are having their annual awayday next week, and I was wondering whether any of you might want to feed in to that? We are extremely lucky to have a wonderful bunch of Trustees who are incredibly supportive both of me personally and the charity as a whole. The aim of the day is for the trustees to reflect on how the charity has been performing in the last year and to identify priorities for the future direction of the charity. I am certain they would love to hear any ideas that you may have and I will happily forward on whatever you send me.

SECTOR NEWS & USEFUL FINDS

• Government earmarks £132.5m for young people’s music and drama

https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/government-earmarks-132-5m-for-young-peoples-music-and-drama

• ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus is composing a new musical with AI assistance

https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-is-composing-a-new-musical-with-ai-assistance_1681452/

• David Cope, Godfather of A.I. Music, Is Dead at 83

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/technology/david-cope-dead-ai-music.html 7

• Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2025/05/universal-music-group-and-apple-music-announce-sound-therapy/

• Effect of music therapy on emotional resilience, well-being, and employability: a quantitative investigation of mediation and moderation

https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-02336-x

• APPG for Music Education report

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education met on 28 April at Portcullis House in London, its first in-person meeting in many years since moving online for Covid. On the agenda was discussion of DfE's Interim Report on Curriculum and Assessment Review and the recently-announced National Centre for Arts and Music Education, chaired by Bambos Charalambous MP.
Sound Sense and the community music community was represented in the room by Sound Sense board member, Dr Tenley Martin. Read Tenley's report on the meeting in the here.

• Neurodiversity in music documentary 

Sound Connections Wired4Music Associate Shakira Alleyne’s documentary, Neurodiversity in Music: Improving Access, is now available as a free resource. This documentary exploring best practices, barriers, and next steps in supporting neurodivergent creatives in the music industry/education sector. 

Neurodiversity in Music: Improving Access shines a light on the lived experiences of neurodivergent musicians, creatives, and educators who navigate a system often unprepared to support them. Inspired by her personal journey, Shakira Alleyne dives into the challenges neurodivergent people face within the creative industries, as well as examples of best practices and the steps needed to improve access and support. Watch the documentary here >

• Creative workshop toolkit 

Creative Lives have produced a new online toolkit, How to plan a successful creative workshop. It's an accessible and practical guide, aimed at community and volunteer-led projects. This toolkit is part of Creative Lives' comprehensive and open access resource bank, with guides and briefings on a huge range of topics: fundraising, insurance, digital contact, remote working and more! Explore at creative-lives.org >

• Open letter against Access to Work reforms gains over 2,600 signatures

Over 2,600 leaders from across the arts and cultural sector have signed an open letter to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) expressing their grave concerns over proposed reforms to the Access to Work scheme.

• London Arts and Health is working with City St. George’s, University of London to gain insights about the training needs of the creative health workforce.
  
  This survey is designed to understand what kind of training or professional development would best support your work in the field. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or just beginning your journey in Creative Health, your input is valuable. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete: A lucky winner will be sent a Cass Art Voucher worth £50!

HAND PICKED OPPORTUNITIES

• Residency & Exhibition Opportunity

  This New Ground are looking for two learning disabled and/or neurodiverse visual artists to take part in an artist residency.

  Closing - 30 Jun 2025, Location - Portsmouth, Fee - £1000. Details here.

• Arts & Health Hub’s Support Hub project

  The Support Hub is a range of support programmes for artists exploring health and wellbeing in their practice. You can apply to access:

  – Artists’ peer to peer mental health groups.

  – Peer to peer professional development groups.

  – Reflective supervision support for participatory artists.

  – One-to-one mentoring for early career artists, with mentors: Daniel Regan (@danielreganphotography), Jennifer Gilbert (@j_lgallery), Bakita Kasadha (@bakitakk), Sonia Boue (@s_boue) & Anna Woolf (@anna_woolf_frsa).

  – Sessions run in person in London.

  – Sessions also run online for national applicants outside of London, or for those who may face access barriers to attending in person. Full details here.

• Music in the Round: Composer Call Out for WeCompose 2025-2026
  Seeking composers who are passionate about working with young people and facilitating their creative ideas.
  Deadline: 9 June | Access: not disclosed - contact wecompose@musicintheround.co.uk
  More information about WeCompose

• CoMA Summer School: August 2025
  A place for musicians to come together for five full days of fun and exciting music-making, with several fully-funded places for people facing financial barriers.
  Deadline: 20 June | Access: step-free venues, accessible toilets, adapted accomodation available contact francesca@coma.org
  More information about CoMA Summer School 2025

Continuing professional development

• Online MEd for music practitioners

Applications are now open for Trinity Laban's MEd Music Education (Online), an accredited professional development route for practising music teachers and music leaders. The course combines 1:1 tutor support, live study groups, placements and observations, with an optional one-week residential in April (at extra cost) at Trinity Laban's campus in Greenwich. Teaching staff include Dave Camlin, Jo Gibson and Tim Palmer. Find out more at trinitylaban.ac.uk/courses/med-music-education-online

• Sensory Sound Play-Exploring Inclusive Sound Worlds with Children with SEND

18 June    Online
Join Note Weavers Director and Music Therapist Georgina Roberts for an interactive session designed for practitioners working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Details here.

• Make It Happen: A young person's guide to setting up a music project

19 June    Online
Join We Make Music Scotland / Music Education Partnership Group Youth Forum for this free online event for young musicians who want to bring people together and start making music. Details here.

• Chiltern Shares: Managing the Day-to-Day Practicalities

5 August    Online
This Chiltern Music Therapy training session will explore the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that help keep your practice professional, safe, and manageable - whatever stage you're at in your career. Details here.

• Community Music Now & Next

18 October    Gloucester
Sound Sense is delighted to announce the upcoming event Community Music Now & Next, a one-day learning and networking event in partnership with The Music Works. Details here.Item description