Document Actions
Lottery money cheers Harmony
17 Jan 2008
MORE than 2,000 free concerts in over 80 venues across the Borders will now be able to go ahead, thanks to a cash handout from the Lottery of £208,082.
Harmony, the award-winning Borders charity, has been granted the money from the Big Lottery Fund’s 21st Century Life Programme.
The funds will allow Harmony to provide musicians for more than 700 free concerts a year to thousands of older people in more than 80 locations including residential care, long-stay hospital wards, sheltered accommodation and day centres across the Borders over the next three years.
Secretary Jim Smith said the award recognises the success and importance of the work being carried out by Harmony’s volunteers and musicians.
“Harmony’s musicians bring joy and happiness into the lives of the oldest and most frail members of our community, so that they can live and not simply exist, by reaching beyond the power of speech,” he said.
Last year the charity put on 500 concerts for older people receiving care and support in the Borders.
Harmony’s chairperson and one of its musicians, Violet Baillie, added: “As a society we are very good at meeting the physical and medical needs of older people but often fail to recognise we must also meet their even more important social and emotional needs.
“It is a very humbling and moving experience to take the hand of someone who is completely withdrawn, unable to communicate in any way, with eyes glazed, and to see a light dawn in their eyes and a smile appear when you sing to them.”
The charity actively encourages organisations and individuals to recognise and provide for these needs of older people in supported accommodation.
This Big Lottery money will not only allow Harmony to provide more concerts but will also enable it to place a greater emphasis on involving families and communities in the lives of elderly and infirm people.
This is the third Big Lottery award Harmony has received since it was set up five years ago.
The funds will allow Harmony to provide musicians for more than 700 free concerts a year to thousands of older people in more than 80 locations including residential care, long-stay hospital wards, sheltered accommodation and day centres across the Borders over the next three years.
Secretary Jim Smith said the award recognises the success and importance of the work being carried out by Harmony’s volunteers and musicians.
“Harmony’s musicians bring joy and happiness into the lives of the oldest and most frail members of our community, so that they can live and not simply exist, by reaching beyond the power of speech,” he said.
Last year the charity put on 500 concerts for older people receiving care and support in the Borders.
Harmony’s chairperson and one of its musicians, Violet Baillie, added: “As a society we are very good at meeting the physical and medical needs of older people but often fail to recognise we must also meet their even more important social and emotional needs.
“It is a very humbling and moving experience to take the hand of someone who is completely withdrawn, unable to communicate in any way, with eyes glazed, and to see a light dawn in their eyes and a smile appear when you sing to them.”
The charity actively encourages organisations and individuals to recognise and provide for these needs of older people in supported accommodation.
This Big Lottery money will not only allow Harmony to provide more concerts but will also enable it to place a greater emphasis on involving families and communities in the lives of elderly and infirm people.
This is the third Big Lottery award Harmony has received since it was set up five years ago.
The Harmony bid was assisted by SBC's Senior Executive Programme (SEP) which uses the skills of retired and semi-retired volunteers to provide community groups with professional support. Charlie Renton, one of the SEP volunteers in the Borders helped Harmony to prepare a business plan in support of their lottery bid.