Here at Jessie’s Fund every week is music therapy week, but we are pleased to celebrate the first #worldmusictherapyweek. It’s been great to see all the posts shared by organisations across social media celebrating the power of music therapy.

Here are some thoughts from parents, carers and staff whose children and young people have accessed music therapy through our work:

“Aisha’s voice is growing louder! It is lovely hearing Aisha sing and her musical ideas are incorporated into musical improvisations with the whole group.“ (Feedback from music therapy grant to a nursery setting).

“Music Therapy is helpful because it’s a different way of expressing my feelings. It adds light to the situation that my family are in. It gives me a break from the situation and helps me to have focus on something else that is for me. It would be helpful for other children. It feels so different to a one-on-one chat because the music expresses my feelings without saying them and gives a different perspective on how I look at my emotions.” (From a sibling of a child with a life limiting condition, who accessed music therapy through a children’s hospice)

“Music gave him a non-verbal way to be emotionally expressive. This was very important as he struggled to put his feelings into words or struggled to discuss difficult things.” (Feedback from a music therapy grant to an individual).

Thank you to all our supporters who have allowed this important work to happen, and helped us to spread the word about the need for music therapy for children and young people with additional needs and life limiting illness. Further thanks to the organisations that we have worked alongside to embed music therapy in children’s hospices across the UK, the staff in hospitals who have promoted the work of music therapy on children’s wards and to the schools and families who see the value of music therapy for their children and young people too. Finally a big thank you to all the music therapists for the amazing work you do! #worldmusictherapyweek