Music projects around the country to receive support

Health, at-risk youth and palliative care music projects around the country to receive support from national foundation

The New Zealand Music Foundation, the leading charity dedicated to supporting projects across NZ that change the lives of people in need through music, today announced the results of their September support round.

Eight projects in five cities and towns affecting more than 15,000 people will receive over $25,000 in support in the latest initiative to be announced by the charity.

Chair of The New Zealand Music Foundation, Campbell Smith says: “We’re proud to announce the results of our latest support round and feel that it comprehensively reflects our belief that music has the power to change the lives of those in need in our country. From projects working with children in poverty through to a choir that measurably improves outcomes for people with neurological conditions, these initiatives vividly illustrate the positive effect music can have in all parts of our lives.”

Zeal Wellington has received support for equipment to assist with providing programmes for at risk youth in the CBD The Regional Manager of Zeal Wellington, Scott Reeves said: “This new equipment is great news for our efforts with at-risk young people in Wellington. The New Zealand Music Foundation has been aware of our need to replace broken equipment at our Wellington Youth Facility that’s essential for our delivery of weekend events, rehearsals and training in production, live sound, lighting and event management. Music changes lives, and this will definitely help us to continue to have a positive impact.”

True Colours provides support to seriously ill children in the Waikato and music is integral to their approach. They have has received assistance from The Foundation to purchase equipment to provide the music therapy programme. Cynthia Ward, Chief Executive and Nurse Specialist at True Colours, says: “The benefit of the inclusion of music therapy in the treatment of children with serious illness is now widely recognised. It goes beyond simple entertainment or diversion, there are many measurable beneficial clinical effects and of course the impact on the wider family and the joy that comes from the sessions is invaluable. We’d like to thank The New Zealand Music Foundation for recognising this and assisting us in our efforts to bring music therapy to seriously ill children in the Waikato.”

In Auckland, a choir that works with people with neurological conditions and a project providing singing workshops for disabled children have received a state-of-the-art keyboard and funding to cover costs respectively. A three-centre programme that uses percussion groups to reach out to children and families from low socio-economic backgrounds and an inner-city performance space in Wellington that uses music to engage at-risk youth have both received new equipment. A music therapy programme for families that are experiencing palliative care of a loved one in Lower Hutt and another for families dealing with life-threatening illness to children in the Waikato have each received assistance for specialist staffing and equipment. An outreach programme to bring music therapy to children with special needs in the south and north of Auckland has received instruments, support with costs and specialist staffing.

The New Zealand Music Foundation receives no government support and relies on donations and memberships to support projects and programmes around the country. The charity hopes to raise $750,000 this year to continue its work.

//ENDS

© Scoop Media