Musical Memories partnership on Harris wins Age Scotland award

The Musical Memories Project in the Western Isles has won Age Scotland’s national award for best partnership working for its success in bringing together a group of organisations to help older people in the island community.

From its beginnings as a dementia café on the isle of Harris, Musical Memories has evolved into a group for anyone with a long term condition and their carers, as well as older people living alone.

It is a partnership made up of Western Isles Community Care Forum (WICCF), Alzheimer Scotland, the Leverburgh Care Home and the Harris House Care Home and the local community learning and development officer with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).

Musical Memories is led by WICCF who notify individuals, carers and care homes of upcoming gatherings. Alzheimer Scotland also attend, sharing advice and information for carers and those living with dementia. And the community and learning development officer links into local schools, inviting children to come along to perform – and serve tea afterwards.

One of the pupil performers said:

“It’s really nice to play for Musical Memories. The audience is so appreciative and it’s good fun. I was a bit nervous at first but it has really boosted my confidence.”
Care home residents join the gatherings either online or face to face, helping them to feel part of the wider community. Some attend thanks to a new partner, Harris Community Wheels, which provides wheelchair accessible transport to allow those with mobility issues to come along.

One care home worker said:

“When Musical Memories is on the screen the residents are far more alert. It really brightens their day. Those who have attended the community events really enjoy getting out and meeting other people.”

The well-attended sessions, which take part at different community venues, feature music that the older participants know well, including those who are living with dementia.

Post-lockdown, which forced all events online, Musical Memories received a grant from Age Scotland’s Keep The Doors Open fund which allowed the project to continue and expand.

It now plays an important role in many older people’s lives and helps to reduce loneliness and isolation in the community. The organisers have produced their own song book, with lyrics printed so everyone can join in, and run an annual concert which is open to the public to raise awareness and attract new members.

One regular member said:

“It’s brough back to me songs I had heard before and forgotten. It’s good for your mental health.”

Peggy Mackay, co-ordinator of the Western Isles Community Care Forum, said:

“Our Musical Memories group is delighted to have won the Patrick Brooks Award for Best Working Partnership.  It’s a huge boost for a small rural project. The award is not just for the partners involved but for those who attend regularly and the performers. Without them, there would be no Musical Memories.

“That said, it’s great to receive recognition for the hard work that has gone into developing the group over the years, especially during lockdown when Musical Memories really did become a lifeline, reducing isolation for many older people in our community.

“We plan to ‘milk’ this for a while!  Being able to declare ourselves winners of this award will increase our public profile and hopefully lead to an increase in the membership.  We will also take great pride in reporting this accolade to our funders (Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund) who have supported us - proof that they made the right decision! It will also hopefully add weight to future funding applications.”

Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said:

“I am delighted to present this year’s Patrick Brooks Award for Best Partnership Working to the Musical Memories project,  a collaboration made up of Western Isles Community Care Forum, Alzheimer Scotland, the Leverburgh Care Home, the Harris House Care Home and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).

“The project has grown arms and legs since it began as a community dementia café, and now, thanks to all the partners, offers a place for older people, those who live alone, care home residents, people living with dementia and their carers to come together in person or online to enjoy music.

“I’m delighted that an Age Scotland grant helped the project recover after the Covid lockdowns and go on to provide a friendly, community hub to help tackle loneliness and isolation, as well as forge inter-generational bonds by inviting local schoolchildren to attend and perform at events.

“It’s wonderful to hear how much the project means to those who attend. Congratulations to all involved on this well-deserved achievement.”