Short Breaks multi-sensory music project: working remotely with families in Salford

Over the last few months, we have been continuing our work in the Salford community, delivering Songbirds Musical Breaks (Remote Sensory Music Workshops for Children with Complex Needs and their families/caregivers). The project is funded by Salford CVS and we work with families from Salford with a child with complex needs, limited communication and profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

The feedback we have received from parents/caregivers has been unanimously positive. All parents/caregivers who have taken part in our Short Breaks funded work (2020-2022), reported that their children enjoyed the sessions and as a family they would look forward to the next one. Families described how the sessions helped with feelings of isolation and created a bonding experience with their child. Families also noted a difference in their child; the music lifted their mood, they wanted to take part even after a day of school and feeling tired or experiencing health struggles.

One parent summarised what the music sessions mean to her child and their family:

‘Music makes such a difference to his life. It helps him to learn, it helps him with his physio, it helps him with his exercise and most importantly he loves it. Songbirds have helped him with all the above and more - he loves working with Ros and Mark, they understand his needs, it makes a big difference to his and our lives working with Songbirds – they are the best!’