Tag: people with disabilities
Harnessing the power of music
People with Special Educational Needs/Learning Disabilities (SEN/LD) can be socially excluded and lack access to the arts, music and appropriate musical instruments.
For the past 20 years, Cumbria Community Foundation has helped support the grassroots charity MusicLinks to provide educational opportunities through arts and culture to vulnerable people, primarily people living with disabilities in rural communities in Cumbria.
One of MusicLinks’ projects is the JamTent at the Kendal Calling music festival. Artists who are already performing at the festival are approached to perform in the JamTent – this year, 18 bands or individuals performed live over the three days.
Other artists who are refugees in the UK or oversees are also linked in on a large screen to play sets in between the live artists. Those refugees may have been established musicians but are now separated from their friends, family and culture and the sessions help give them a sense of belonging.
MusicLinks gathers the audience of participants of all ages from across the county. With the encouragement of MusicLinks facilitators, participants, who may have autism, Down Syndrome or cerebral palsy, make music and jam along with the bands and artists who are on stage or screen using a collection of musical instruments which are provided.
A podium is available with a baton for participants to conduct the band who are primed to actively play along – slowing down, or crescendoing to the cues that the participants give them. The participants get a chance to ask questions of the bands and artists which gives them a chance to learn and gain confidence, while the bands have a chance to play to, and interact with, a diverse audience.
Andy Halsey, Chief Executive of MusicLinks, said: “It is truly joyous to watch. We are very grateful to Kendal Calling for their support for the JamTent as they provide tickets for the participants for free, as well as food vouchers for the facilitators and staff.”
To help prepare participants for the event, and improve their confidence to help them take part, the Foundation funded MusicLinks to run a programme of workshops and MicroFests in the months before Kendal Calling. Those workshops introduced participants to musical instruments, some of which are specifically adapted to their needs, and helped them gain the confidence to perform and mingle with others.
Andy said: “The workshops and the JamTent itself give vulnerable participants the chance to interact in a safe space in which they have a sense of ownership and pride.”
A music promoter who helped book the bands for a previous JamTent recalls one participant with Down Syndrome: “He was watching, sitting with a smile but slightly subdued, and was invited up to conduct The Murder Capital, a band straight from the main stage.
“He started tentatively, but by bringing in each musician with a wave of his hand, his confidence grew, and he started to really come out of his shell, dancing and singing as he slowed, speeded, stopped and started the band up to a rapturous crescendo.
“It was a transcendent experience at JamTent that revitalised my belief in the power of music.”
Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “The Foundation is delighted to have been involved in helping bring this project to fruition with the help of our fundholders. We hope all the participants, bands and artists who took part in the JamTent had an enjoyable, music-filled weekend.”
Showing care for those in despair
In one year alone, west Cumbrian charity, Allerdale Disability Association (ADA), unlocked more than four million pounds worth of benefits for people with disabilities.
You can see the gratitude by the abundance of thank you cards displayed. Everywhere you look there is another gesture of thanks. ADA helps people during their most vulnerable and desperate times.
For most people it helps, it is a life changing service. But for others, the wait, the uncertainty, and the stress, is too much. ADA knows of people who have been driven to thoughts of suicide. Four men have taken their own lives waiting for their benefits appeals to be heard.
Last year, ADA, based in Moorclose Community Centre in Workington, helped 900 people through its information service.
Paul Parkinson, Information and Benefits Advisor, helps people navigate 
their way through the benefits system. In the past, people were given awards for life under the Disability Living Allowance scheme. Now with Personal Independence Payments, people must apply every two years, even if their disability hasn’t changed.
He said: “People are living on money from family, friends, fresh air or they are getting into debt.
“Three of my clients have committed suicide in three years. I went to an appeal tribunal with the widow of a fourth. I try to help clients with everything from filling in forms to appeals and supporting families during the tribunal hearings in court. Just last week, £80,000 of benefits were claimed back for clients after being turned down.”
According to a recent BBC report, a third of people do not appeal the DWP’s decision because ‘the process would be too stressful’ while one in five said they were too unwell to challenge it. The same report featured people selling their belongings to survive as waiting times are more than 12 months for a successful appeal.
Despite this grim picture, there is hope. One client, 58 year old Paul, saw his benefits halve under the new system. Thanks to ADA, his benefits were fully restored. He said: “It made a lot of difference; it was really helpful.”
While getting people’s benefits payments are a life-changing aspect of ADA’s work, it is the regular weekly support that changes the quality of life for its members.
Twice a week, the doors of the centre are thrown open and anyone with a 
physical disability, their families and carers are welcome to come and spend time together. It’s a place where people can relax, learn new skills and meet new friends, or just as 43 year old John said: “I have only one leg and my dad cares for me and my mum who has rheumatoid arthritis. It is a place to go, there’s good conversation and a friendly atmosphere. It gets me out of the house two days a week and it gives my dad a bit of a break.”
In addition to the normal activities, the charity also organises trips to various places and in 2004, after hearing that the local Talking Newspaper group was to disband, the charity took it over and a team of volunteers have continued to record the weekly disc ever since.
Tracey Parker is the manager of ADA. She co-ordinates all the activities and fills out more than 50 fundraising applications a year to keep the centre going.
Cumbria Community Foundation has given more than £138,000 to ADA since 2002. Tracey said: “It costs £68,000 a years to run the charity. The Foundation is a godsend. Its continued support has kept us open and has helped us unlock funding from other sources.”
Tracey has worked for the charity for 21 years. Its current chairman, Peter Mallyon, has been part of ADA for 25 years. Both are committed to providing a safe and supportive place for people living with disabilities.
Their kind nature and welcoming spirit is evident in the way the members talk about them. David has been a regular attender for two decades. He has 24 hour care at home and said: “Tracey and Peter are like family to me.” The smile on David’s face says it all, this is a place where he feels safe and enjoys the company of his ‘extended family’.
ADA will continue to help west Cumbrian’s through the appeals process with the help from external funding. However the debt, frustration and stress ensued is causing people’s health to deteriorate and in some cases making their disability worse.