Page 434 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

Liverpool Philharmonic’s Music and Health programme began in

partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust in 2008. Initially,
the programme was a pilot working across two Mental Health wards
but has now grown to work with the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Foundation Trust, Improving Me and the Walton Centre.

The Philharmonic work in community settings and have a growing

social prescribing programme, welcoming referrals from GPs, Link
Workers and mental health charities.

Music and Health also provide participants and NHS professionals
access to free musical activities, concerts and rehearsal visits to hear

the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at Liverpool Philharmonic
Hall.

The report, drawn from 2022/23 studies by the University of
Liverpool’s Professor Josie Billington, Dr Jaqueline Waldock , Dr

Joanne Worsley, Dr Melissa Chapple (Primary Care and Mental
Health) and Dr Antonina Anisimovich found that 91 per cent of

participants experienced increased self-esteem.

86 per cent of participants said that activities improved their mood

and supported their everyday living. The Music and Health team
forge links with groups across the region, enabling participants to
continue making music in welcoming environments and progress

their recovery journey.

One participant said: “These sessions have inspired me to become
more creative in other areas as well. I have written poems and

started painting again. But I have also managed to speak to people,
which I find extremely difficult.”

Evaluation for the report into the Music and Health Programme has
included thematic analysis of interviews, archive data, participant
testimonials and musicians’ reflections, as well as evidence from

surveys and quantitative data.