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COVID CARE CONCERTS

Age Friendly Ireland

WHO Theme: Community Support And Health Services

Health & Wellbeing Theme: Positive Mental And Emotional Health

Funding Stream: Healthy Ireland Fund, National

Resources Required: Financial, Paid Staff

Cost: 0-500

Description

COVID CARE CONCERTS is a new initiative created by acclaimed Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine. The project was conceived in June 2020 in response to the many social and economic challenges created by Covid-19. The series involves some of Ireland’s finest classical, opera, traditional and popular musicians presenting live, outdoor socially distanced concerts in the gardens and grounds of residential care homes and hospital settings across Ireland. The concerts follow all HSE guidelines around social distancing. Where possible, residents sit outside to enjoy the concert, or listen through open windows. We perform under an enclosed marquee and also have the option to feed sound into the care homes via speakers. We also have portable heating to enable us to perform outside during the winter months. Since the project’s conception in late June 2020 we have performed over 420 concerts in 14 counties. ( April 2021). Age Friendly Ireland have supported 250 of these concerts, which will run until the autumn. We have worked with Creative Ireland to develop a creative interactive element within the project. We email the homes in advance and take requests from the residents when planning our programming. We then email a playlist of our music in advance and encourage the residents to write and journal memories around the music.

Aim of Initiative

Residents of long term care homes, hospital settings and psychiatric hospitals. We have also visited direct provision centres.

Who is it aimed at

Residents of long term care homes, hospital settings and psychiatric hospitals. We have also visited direct provision centres.

Steps critical to success

  1. FUNDING
  2. MEDIA SUPPORT
  3. UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECTS BENEFITS.

Challenges in Planning / Delivery

  1. COMMUNICATING WITH CARE HOMES INITIALLY
  2. FUNDING SECURITY-FUTURE PLANNING

Outcomes / Benefits

  1. IMPROVED MENTAL WELLBEING IN RESIDENTS AND ARTISTS
  2. REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MUSICIANS CLAIMING PUP BENEFITS
  3. DEEPER AWARENESS AROUND THE NEED FOR HOLISTIC CARE

Evaluation / Report:
The project is ongoing.

Contact:

Website:
http://www.mobilemusicmachine.ie/ | https://www.facebook.com/MMMquartet | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnn9Fb9zmY