Uncategorized – Sunbeams Music Trust https://sunbeamsmusic.org Sunbeams strives to improve the lives of disabled children and adults through the creative freedom of music Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:39:40 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cropped-headerlogo-32x32.jpg Uncategorized – Sunbeams Music Trust https://sunbeamsmusic.org 32 32 Annie Mawson MBE receives Honorary Fellowship from the University of Cumbria! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2024/02/15/annie-mawson-mbe-receives-honorary-fellowship-from-the-university-of-cumbria/ Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:39:40 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4712 On 21st November 2023, Annie received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Cumbria during its graduation ceremonies in recognition of her lifelong and outstanding contribution to Community Music Therapy in Cumbria.

Read more here: November ceremonies to celebrate Cumbria’s university graduates

Photograph Copyright Phil Rigby.

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Genesis Homes raises thousands for Sunbeams during 2023! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/12/31/genesis-homes-fundraising-ball-raises-thousands-for-sunbeams/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:17:18 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4678
UPDATE FROM GENESIS: Charity of the Year 2023 Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust – Sunbeams.
“We are extremely honoured to announce that we have raised an incredible amount for our 2023 Charity of the Year, over £45,000 – what an astonishing amount to support such an incredible cause.
We have loved every moment of raising funds and spending time with Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust – Sunbeams and are delighted to be able to donate such a significant amount. Please give their Facebook page a follow and if you’re considering fundraising, they are the most wonderful charity doing the most wonderful work.” #sunbeams #charityoftheyear #fundraising

 

GENESIS HOMES CHARITY BALL 2023: A fabulous evening was had by all at the Genesis Homes Charity Ball in November 2023 in aid of Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust – Sunbeams.

The West End to Broadway Charity Ball raised over £40,000 with all funds going to Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust.
Sunbeams are so very grateful to each and every person involved in the Ball…arranging, helping, performing, hosting, serving, supporting, donating… whatever your role, THANK YOU!
Thank you for such kindness and generosity of all the Auction and Raffle Donors, VIP Tables and everyone who attended and supported the work of the Charity. Thank you to Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, Involved Events and Explosive Productions Ltd.
Thank you so much to Adam, Laura and all the Soul Survivors – Wedding band.
THANK YOU so much to our wonderful friends at Genesis Homes!! They have gone above and beyond over their year of supporting Sunbeams and helped to make a difference to the lives of so many across the County of Cumbria.💙
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Julia and Hans Rausing £25,000 Grant to support Sunbeams ‘Music for Dignity’® Projects! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/10/12/julia-and-hans-rausing-25000-grant-to-support-sunbeams-music-for-dignity-projects/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:30:47 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4656 This summer, Julia and Hans Rausing announced grants totalling £2 million to 41 disability charities across the UK. These grants will support charities of varying sizes meet the challenges of helping those with disabilities amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust is delighted to be one of these recipient charities, receiving a donation of £25,000 to support a number of Sunbeams Music for Dignity® Projects which provide weekly, fortnightly and monthly music sessions to adults with deteriorating health conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s and physically disabled adults attending  Day Centres, Residential Homes and at the Sunbeams Music Centre.

Julia and Hans Rausing said “We have always focused the majority of our Trust on supporting charities that widen opportunities and improve wellbeing and health outcomes. The 41 charities we have selected provide help for people who require significant assistance on a day-to-day basis.

“To meet the complex needs of people with disabilities requires highly skilled and compassionate individuals as well as state of the art equipment and facilities, which are becoming more expensive through the cost-of-living crisis. The charities we are funding are all doing essential work and we are pleased we have been able to help them in continuing to deliver their services.”

Read more here: Julia and Hans Rausing announce grants totalling £2 million to 41 UK based disability charities (juliahansrausingtrust.org)

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Ten Thousand Daffodils raised £310,000!! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/09/12/ten-thousand-daffodils-raised-310000/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:22:48 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4629 The Ten Thousand Daffodils has raised an INCREDIBLE £310,000 for its beneficiary charities, Another Way, Ullswater Catchment CIC, FoUW, New Horizon, Sunbeams and James’ Place. The funds are to be shared equally between the 6 charities.  We are so grateful for the immense amount of effort and time that has gone into this extraordinary Project. THANK YOU to Helen, her Team, Lowther Castle, the hundreds of Volunteers, businesses and supporters involved.

The project has been a massive success and these six charities will be able to do so much with the money raised. Thanks to all who contributed, the volunteers who helped to make the daffodils and to everyone who purchased. Huge thanks also to Lowther Castle for hosting the display and for supporting the project in so many ways.

Read more about the Project here: Ten Thousand Daffodils raised £310,000!! – Ten Thousand Daffodils – A Charity Fundraising Ceramic Installation

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O DUO ARE BACK! Wednesday 11th October 2023 Doors open @ 7pm https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/09/11/mugs-back-by-popular-demand-14-09-23-doors-open-7pm/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:56:34 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4623 Come and join us for another Sunbeams fundraising evening in aid of Sunbeams Community Music Therapy Projects.

This month it’s O Duo: Owen Gunnell and Toby Kearney. Leading Worldwide Percussionists who play pretty much anything and everything they can get their hands and beaters on! The Duo will be performing classical arrangements of keyboard works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Chopin and others. Also featuring contemporary works for percussion. They are an exceptional talent and not to be missed!

“Renowned for their ‘phenomenal artistry’ (The Daily Telegraph), O Duo has performed across the world. Highlights include appearing twice at the BBC Proms, at the Last Night of the Proms in Hyde Park and most recently to give the premiere of Wilful Chants by Stephen Montague with the BBC Symphony Chorus, recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Cheltenham and City of London Festivals. O Duo gave the premiere of Stephen McNeff’s Concert O-Duo at the Barbican as part of BBC Symphony Orchestra’s 80th birthday concert, and has performed an eclectic repertoire including Bartók’s Sonata with Artur Pizzarro and Vita Panomariovaite, and music by Moondog (the iconic American composer) at the Barbican.”

O Duo | Pro Artist LTAM (proartist-ltam.co.uk)

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Sunbeams Family HAF Days this Summer 2023. Book Now! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/08/07/sunbeams-family-haf-days-this-summer-2023-book-now/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:29:27 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4598

Sunbeams HAF SEND Family Days…all about Healthy Eating and lots of Music fun!! Fully funded by Westmorland & Furness Council for SEND children and young people.  Don’t miss out – there are still some spaces available!

These family days involve a Sunbeams Music For Life® Session, a nutritious lunch, Guest appearances which will include Kevin the Magician!  The day starts from 11am and finishes between 2-3pm. Families are welcome to leave when they feel they need to.  Children will receive a sensory HAF themed gift to take home along with nutrition guidance. These are fully funded for SEND children by Westmorland & Furness Council HAF Fund.

The days are held at the Sunbeams Music Centre, CALL 0DT @ 11am-3pm and the dates are as follows:

  • Wednesday 2nd August Kevin the Magician!
  • Wednesday 9th August Kevin the Magician!
  • Wednesday 16th August DJ Oli will be here!
  • Wednesday 23rd August
  • Wednesday 30th August Kevin the Magician!
  • Saturday 2nd September Kevin the Magician!
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SUPERSIZE DAFFODILS! BID ONLINE AT THE CHARITY AUCTION 17TH-24TH JUNE 2023. https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/06/14/celebrating-31-years-of-sunbeams-fundraising-concerts-are-back/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:59:53 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4479

BID ON ONE OF THE TEN SUPERSIZE DAFFODILS!

Ten Thousand Daffodils has culminated in the much anticipated display of individually handmade flowers fluttering and dancing in the gardens of Lowther Castle. Dotted amongst these iridescent flowers are ten magnificent blooms created by Helen, our tireless potter. Each large bloom has been individually designed by creative individuals who have brought their artistic inspiration to a project which we hope has brought joy and hope to all who have seen and those who will benefit from the generosity from every individual who makes a charitable donation by buying a daffodil.

Ten Thousand Daffodils is a charity fundraising project and the brainchild of locally based potter, Helen Ratcliffe. The aim of the project is to raise money for six amazing charities while creating a beautiful art installation in its own right.

You can visit this stunning art installation set in the gardens of Lowther Castle. Ten Thousand hand-made ceramic daffodils nod gently in the Lowther breezes, pathways carved between them so visitors can enjoy them up close.

 

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DAFFODIL SHOP NOW OPEN! Ten Thousand Daffodils: A Charity Fundraising Ceramic Installation https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/03/14/daffodil-shop-now-open-ten-thousand-daffodils-a-charity-fundraising-ceramic-installation/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:52:31 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4430

24 APRIL – 24 JUNE 2023, LOWTHER CASTLE & GARDENS

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
…Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance”.

 

We are absolutely delighted to be one of the 6 charities benefiting from the 10,000 Daffodils Ceramic Installation! At Sunbeams, we are most grateful to Helen Ratcliffe and her Team behind this…they have all done incredibly well and their efforts are truly inspirational.

It is going to be stunning to see so many ceramic daffodils installed at Lowther Castle and Gardens and, whilst raising funds for great causes, it’s celebrating the rich literary and historical legacy of the Ullswater valley!

Funds received for Sunbeams, are going to be spent on providing Sunbeams Music For Life® Projects to children all across Cumbria with a wide range of special educational needs, disabilities and complex health needs. Our Projects deliver Community Music Therapy and harness the power of Music for both therapeutic and educational benefit to improve well-being and quality of life for children (and adults) with disabilities across Cumbria.

To read more and/or reserve your Daffodil, please click here:

A hand crafted daffodil – Ten Thousand Daffodils – A Charity Fundraising Ceramic Installation

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Sunbeams Family HAF Days are BACK for Easter 2023!! https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/03/14/sunbeams-family-haf-days-are-back-fo/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:00:26 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=4394 Sunbeams Family Days are back this Easter 2023!  Sunbeams are offering an exciting programme of fun activities to help increase self-esteem, improve wellbeing and provide information and advice on healthy eating and nutrition, most importantly, to have some fun! Get in touch with our Project Manager, Liesl, to find out more.

To see all holiday activities going on across the County of Cumbria, please follow this link: Cumbria’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme | Cumbria County Council

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Sunbeams Covid-19 Procedures Updated 16th February 2023 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/2023/02/21/sunbeams-covid-19-procedures-update-may-2022/ Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:26:57 +0000 https://sunbeamsmusic.org/?p=3690

UPDATED: 16th February 2023

The Government’s removal of all remaining Covid restrictions ended last year in February 2022. However, this does not mean that Covid-19 has gone away and there are still thousands of people with weakened immune systems who remain at a higher risk. There are also many other viruses that pose risks that our immune systems are also vulnerable to.

At Sunbeams, we deliver our services to many children and adults who remain vulnerable due to their profound disabilities and/or terminal health conditions. Therefore, it remains important to consider those who have multiple, terminal and complex health needs and who may not be able to have vaccinations.

As a Health and Wellbeing Setting, it is essential that, Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust, (Sunbeams), continues to be vigilant to help protect those most vulnerable. Sunbeams returned to the delivery of Music for Life® and Music For Dignity® Music Therapy Projects in person at the Sunbeams Centre last year.  There are also a number of Sunbeams Projects that remain online via Zoom as the platform of delivery.  However, some Covid Procedures will remain in place at the Sunbeams Centre to ensure the health and safety of all staff, musicians, volunteers, visitors hiring the facilities, but most importantly, to help mitigate the risk of transmission to vulnerable beneficiaries who have returned to attending Sunbeams Community Music Therapy.

Moving forward…

Even if you are fully vaccinated with boosters, it is still possible to catch and spread Covid-19.  We need to learn to live with Covid-19 going forward, as with other viruses, and manage the risk to ourselves and others.  We cannot predict the future but we can be mindful of the continued risks to some.   There are measures we can continue to take to ensure those more vulnerable and at greater risk of illness, can feel safe leaving their homes.  We can help them with the actions we take and we can help to make them feel safer out in their communities.

At Sunbeams, we will continue to monitor Covid and update our risk assessments as and when required for all of our Sunbeams Projects taking place here at the Centre and in Outreach Venues.

In summary, we will continue to require all those that attend the Sunbeams Music Centre to:

  • Wear masks and/or visors in communal areas when and where vulnerable people are present, (unless exemption applies), these can be removed once in the room you/your group are using. Please note: masks are no longer compulsory when and where there are no vulnerable people present.
  • Undertake Covid checks upon arrival: Temperature check.
  • Sanitise upon arrival and avoid unnecessary over touching of handles, surfaces etc. where possible.
  • For participants of Sunbeams Projects: If attending Projects, please try to remain with your group where possible and keep a safe distance from others where you are able to. Please let us know if you are particularly concerned about your health so that we can put further provisions in place to support you to attend as safely as possible. Call our Project Manager: Liesl McViety on 01768 892909 or email: Liesl@sunbeamsmusic.org

Sunbeams is fortunate to have a bespoke Centre that benefits greatly from being a
‘Breathable Building’. A breathable building is designed to be healthy for its occupants
because it is:

  • Vapour-permeable, meaning its materials allow for the buffering of excess water thereby allowing water vapour to be discharged.
  • Designed to decrease the risk of respiratory ailments as a result of vapour discharge.
  • Designed to enhance both the physical and mental health of its occupants.

While no situation is risk free, all of us can play our part by understanding the situations
where risks of COVID-19 infection and transmission are likely to be higher, and taking action
to reduce these risks to protect ourselves and others around us.
In providing reassurance of our safety measures, we conduct Risk Assessments for the
delivery of Sunbeams Community Music Therapy Services in the Centre. For a copy of our
full Covid-19 Procedures, Guidelines and Control Measures, please contact Sunbeams on 01768 892909.

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