Who do Sunbeams help?

At Sunbeams we aim to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing and skills of severely disabled and disadvantaged people by engaging them and their families and carers with free, on-going Community Music Sessions, accredited training and community music concerts.

 

Through our Sunbeams Music For Life® and Music For Dignity® programmes we tackle problems of social exclusion, deprivation, ill-health and inequality still prevalent in the disabled community, particularly in rural communities such as those found in Cumbria and “help disadvantaged individuals improve their quality of life and self-esteem through the creative freedom of music”.10 specialist graduate musicians deliver regular Community Music Sessions to over 1000 people in over 40 venues every month, including Care Homes; Day Centres; Special Schools; Out-of-School Clubs; Hospital Wards; Hospices and other Community Venues delivering our own Music for Life® and Music for Dignity® programmes to…
  • Children of all ages with a wide range of disabilities and complex medical needs. We also welcome their family members to our Family Learning projects.
  • Adults with physical disabilities attending Day Centres.
  • Adults with learning disabilities living in sheltered accommodation.
  • Elderly people living in Residential Care Homes or attending Day Centres – most of our older beneficiaries have long-term disabling illnesses, physical disabilities or problems of mental health such as dementia.
  • People with life threatening illnesses in Hospice care in Cumbria, or attending Day Units within the Hospice.

Training

We are also capable of delivering 16 Music For Life® Learning Modules (ranging from Pre – Entry Level NVQ to Level 3) to adults with learning disabilities, offering them the chance to work towards a recognised qualification. The Sunbeams Music Centre will enable us to support our current delivery, and expand our reach to a National level.

Concerts

The Sunbeams Concert Troupe

The troupe are an established Sunbeams group of adults with physical and/or learning disabilities and mental health who work with Sunbeams musicians to develop inspiring and uplifting concert programmes which they perform across Cumbria (and even London!) which change the perceptions of disabled people as performing artists.

The Sunbeams Silver Liners

The Silver Liners were formed as part of the Big Lottery funded Silver Dreams project. A group of adults with physical disabilities attending Copeland Occupational & Social Centre worked on a weekly basis with Sunbeams musicians to learn stimulating and engaging musical repertoire suitable for performance in their local Care Homes and Day Centres for older more vulnerable people with dementia and/or physical disabilities. They also staged large scale public performances in the local Civic Hall. More information on the Silver Dreams Project can be found on the blog.

 

Concerts by World-Class Musicians

We also host regular public concerts, enabling our supporters and beneficiaries to hear performances by world-class musicians. Past performances include:

  • The Locrian Ensemble
  • O Duo Percussion ( http://oduo.co.uk/ )
  • Chris Laurence Jazz Quartet
  • Aquarelle Guitar Quartet ( http://www.aquarellegq.com/ )
  • Guy Johnston ( http://www.guy-johnston.com/ )
  • Sacconi String Quartet ( http://sacconi.com/ )

Plus performances by local musicians, the Sunbeams Concert Troupe and Annie Mawson herself!

For more information about any of our projects, please do not hesitate in contacting us.