Page 432 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

Along with original partners Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Cancer
Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Improving Me (a consortium of 27 NHS organisations) and

the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, the Music and Health programme has supported
over 18,000 people living with mental and physical ill health across the Liverpool City

Region.

The programme places emphasis on individuals’ own creativity as part of their recovery

journey, and raises confidence through the learning of new skills. It also opens up
opportunities for participants to experience live music in the community and in care sites.
For example, it gives both participants and NHS professionals access to free musical

activities, concerts and rehearsal visits to hear the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Tying in with World Mental Health Day 2023 (Tuesday 10 October), the 15th anniversary
celebrations will see current and past participants from across the programme take part in
special performances both on the stage and in hospital wards. In addition to performances,

Liverpool Philharmonic and the University of Liverpool will release a joint special report
on the benefits the programme has had on participants, their families, NHS Staff and

musicians since its inception. On 16 October, the celebrations will draw to a close with a
special event held at the Houses of Parliament.

The Music and Health programme began in 2008 in partnership with Mersey Care NHS

Foundation Trust, who pioneered the first mental health NHS Musician in Residence
programme. Michael Crilly, director of social health and community inclusion, said, 'Those

of us connected to this partnership between Mersey Care and the Philharmonic over the
last decade have witnessed first-hand the phenomenal impact that music has had upon the

recovery journey of literally thousands of service users across all parts of our organisation.

'These programmes have delivered a truly humanising process, through which our service
users have been engaged as a whole person and not simply seen as the diagnosis that so

often defines their existence. Mersey Care has remained committed to this partnership
year on year not simply because it is merely a ‘nice’ thing to do but because we have

successively seen the programmes deliver very real and transformative recovery and well-
being outcomes.'

An evaluation report by the University of Liverpool demonstrates that the Music and
Health Programme enhances mood and self-esteem for those experiencing mental or
physical illness; helps people rebuild confidence and develop skills; and supports

independent living in the community, making new connections or returning to
employment.