Social Prescribing Day 2025

As a community music charity with health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do, celebrating Social Prescribing Day is really important to us.  Why?  Because Social Prescribing changes lives for the better!

What is Social Prescribing?

Sometimes, problems just can’t be solved by doctors or medication.  However, other interventions can help to make a difference by empowering people to manage their circumstances positively and effectively, to help them connect with others and to grow in confidence. 

Social prescribing begins with a referral from a GP, hospital, charity or other organisation to a Social Prescribing Link Worker, who will identify the best activity to follow in order to improve the wellbeing of a person.  These activities are typically:

·         Advice and Information

·         Arts and Culture

·         Heritage

·         Natural Environment

·         Physical Activity

How does Social Prescribing help people?

Stress, anxiety, isolation, long-term health conditions – these are examples that can be alleviated by a form of Social Prescribing. 

Prescribed activities can offer a person empowering practical and emotional support, provide a sense of inclusion and build their confidence too, resulting in improved health and wellbeing.

Does Music24 facilitate one of these prescribed activities?

Yes!  We fall under the Arts and Culture prescribed activity.  For the last ten years, we have seen the benefits our innovative work brings to people who are socially isolated or who live in ill health and/or with a disability.  Singing, dancing and making-music in a safe, non-judgemental space with our trained staff and friendly volunteers, boosts mood, creativity and connection.  Through the power of music, we help people to live well and feel better.

Ask your Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire based GP about Social Prescribing and Music24.

Music24 was Hot Hot Hot at Luton Carnival 2023

There was sunshine, street food, colour and vibrant music aplenty on Sunday 28th May 2023, and Music24 showed Luton International Carnival just how to 'shake their stuff'!!  We took our voices (and dance moves) to the Open Lea Project and celebrated the new Hat Gardens by entertaining the crowds with our rendition of ‘Hot Hot Hot’.  A short video of our performance can been viewed below.

Representatives from our Luton based Dementia, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities groups, along with staff and volunteers, were excited to be involved in Luton’s biggest cultural event of the year.  Not only did we get the chance to sing, dance and soak up the atmosphere, we also enjoyed chatting to the public about the work we do within our community.  It was a fantastic opportunity to spread the word about our services and showcase who we are, and why we believe making music and being creative is the key to our health and wellbeing.

Celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III

How did you celebrate the Coronation in May?  Music24 marked the historic event with cake, colour and, of course, music!  Our Singing Café group in Welwyn Garden City had fun making majestic crowns, singing songs of celebration and sharing sumptuous baked confections known as cake, with plenty of second helpings!

As a tribute to His Majesty’s public service, we also spread the message about the act of volunteering highlighted by the Coronation weekend’s ‘The Big Help Out’ campaign.  Championing the positive impact that volunteering has on supporting local areas and communities across the nation, the campaign encouraged people to give volunteering a go for themselves.  We would like to thank all our current volunteers that help make Music24 possible.  From those of you who help out at our sessions to those who support us in countless other ways - thank you for everything you do!

If, in the spirit of King Charles III’s Coronation legacy, you would like to consider volunteering for us, more information is available here.  So please, get in touch with us directly, we would love to hear from you!

There's a New Project coming to Biggleswade

Music24 is please to announce the launch of their new pilot project in Biggleswade for adults with Learning Disabilities. The new project, entitled ‘Biggles Rock’ has been seed-funded by funding through the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme. Voting took place in the local Tesco Store in Sandy during Nov-Dec 2018. It was announced in January that Music24 had come 2nd place with their project and had been awarded £2,000 to set the venture up.

Music24 plan to use this funding to help set up a new group offering opportunities for singing, dancing and socialising. The group will take place on a Wednesday afternoon at the Masonic Centre (St Andrew’s Rooms). Music24 are holding taster sessions in the lead up to it’s launch in May 2019.

For more info, call Teela on 07521 248091 or email teela@music24.org.uk.