Care homes and daycare centres across Caithness and Sutherland to host live music performances as part of wellbeing project
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Talented local musicians will be taking to the road over the coming year to entertain care home residents and daycare centre users across Caithness and Sutherland.
Multi-instrumentalist Addie Harper from Wick is leading the initiative and he hopes it will promote "positive wellbeing and happiness" through live music.
Addie was awarded funding from Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for a project called North Coast Entertainment which will deliver 118 free performances over the next 12 months in care homes and day centres around the far north.
North Coast Entertainment will create work opportunities for "early career" musicians as well as on-the-job support and training in community music. Experienced professionals will be invited to perform too and to share some of their knowledge with the next generation.
Care homes and daycare facilities being visited as part of the scheme include Pulteney House, Riverside House, Seaview House, Pentland View, Bayview House, Laurandy Centre, Lybster Day Care Centre, Dunbeath Daycare Centre, Melvich Community Care Unit, Melness care home, Kyle Centre in Tongue and Seaforth House Community Care Units in Golspie.
Performances have already begun, and Addie has been encouraged by the initial reaction.
"We were playing in the Riverside home the other day and a lot of residents were actually up dancing, which was lovely to see," he said. "It's a good lift for them, and if we see them happy then we're delighted.
"The first one we did was the Laurandy Centre and it was very good."
The line-up of performers will change and the musical selections will vary to keep things fresh.
"I want to change the programme – I don't want to go back with the same thing every month," Addie said. "Hopefully the homes enjoy it – and they have been so far."
Addie went on: “We can’t thank Creative Scotland enough for this opportunity. As we emerge from the pandemic, I hope this project will help reconnect care home residents with their communities.
"Music can be a great tool for healing, mental health, positive wellbeing and happiness. We are very much looking forward to working in partnership with the staff and residents.
“We have a wealth of extremely talented young musicians living in the north. However, many of them are unable to sustain a full-time career in music due to a lack of work possibilities.
"North Coast Entertainment will provide local employment for local musicians, and we hope this will be the beginning of something really special for those living in Caithness and Sutherland.”
