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Orchestra's £50 gift


THE Abbeydale String Orchestra made a £50 donation to South Yorkshire charity Lost Chord, which provides interactive musical experiences for dementia sufferers in homes and day centres across the region. The charity needs £200,000 a year to maintain the service.

 Lost Chord play for Mary at her funeral

WHEN South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord heard one of its keenest supporters had died, its musicians were more than happy to fulfil one final musical request.
Mary Garrett, of Dinnington, spent her final years in a residential home in Worksop that was regularly visited by the charity that provides interactive musical experiences for dementia sufferers.

Mary often spoke to her family of how much she enjoyed the sessions and appreciated the music.

So when Lost Chord chief executive and High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Helena Muller was asked if Lost Chord musicians could play at Mary's funeral she immediately said yes.

"We were delighted to be asked and managed to re-arrange our day so Rebecca Watson, the soprano working on the scheme, was able to perform in Sheffield that morning and, while travelling to Mexborough for a performance in the afternoon, stopped off to sing Danny Boy, Mary's favourite song, as the coffin was being carried out of the church in Dinnington," Helena said.

Rebecca said: "I remember Mary well. She was always terribly excited when we arrived each month and so enthusiastic about the music. It was such a privilege to sing Danny Boy at her funeral."Lost Chord’s musical appeal

 Lost ChordLost Chord's musical appeal

SOUTH Yorkshire charity Lost Chord is looking for musicians to help bring relief to the region’s dementia sufferers.
The organisation, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, provides concerts in homes and day centres across the region.
Its work was recently featured in a BBC Lifeline appeal presented by TV personality Angela Rippon, who saw for herself the positive impact live music had on residents in Rotherham’s Laureate Court care home.
Fellow celebrity supporters include patrons Doncaster diva Lesley Garrett, Sir Cliff Richard and Dame Vera Lynn.
The charity now presents regular musical sessions at more than 60 residential homes throughout South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and has a hundred musicians on its books.
But with the service proving increasingly popular – pilot schemes are now also being extended to London, Cardiff and Hereford - there is a constant need for musicians to help cope with demand.
“We have some excellent musicians working with us already but we always need more,” said Lost Chord Chief Executive Helena Muller, the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire.
“What we are looking for is highly qualified professional musicians who are sympathetic to the needs of dementia sufferers and are very adaptable, able to gear their programme of music to that audience and also be ready to change that programme at a moment’s notice to respond to the individual needs of the residents.”
A typical Lost Chord performance can include anything from the classics to more contemporary popular music, all aimed at engaging the attention and providing a moment of recognition and pleasure.
“All our musicians understand the importance of what they are doing and say how much pleasure they themselves get from seeing the positive impact their music can have on this audience,” said Helena.
“What we really need is musicians who are keen to use their talent to give something special to people who have very little else in their lives.”
Anybody who would like to know more about the work of Lost Chord and how they can become involved should call 01909 563335 or visit www.lost-chord.org.uk

Grant aid boost for dementia charity

SOUTH Yorkshire charity Lost Chord has received three major grants to help extend its work among Britain’s dementia sufferers.
The Rank Foundation has given the organisation grant funding worth £22,500 over three years.
A donation of £4,800 from the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust will help the organisation provide interactive musical sessions at four care homes in South Yorkshire.
And grant aid worth £7,500 from the Mercers’ Charitable Foundation will fund a new project for dementia sufferers in London.
Lost Chord - whose patrons include Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and Doncaster diva Lesley Garrett - produces more than 850 musical sessions every year, using professional musicians to stimulate responses from dementia sufferers in care homes and day centres.
Launched in 1999 by businesswoman and High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Helena Muller, Lost Chord now covers more than 60 residential homes across South Yorkshire.
More recently the project has been expanded nationally, with pilot schemes in both Cardiff and London.
“We are delighted to have been given grant aid worth well over £30, 000 by these three organisations,” said Helena. “It is thanks to this level of support that we can not only continue to provide this service in South Yorkshire but can now also extend our work into other parts of the country.”

Grant aid boost for Lost Chord

LEADING South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord has been awarded grant aid worth £90,000.
The organisation which provides musical stimulation to dementia sufferers in care homes and day centres across the region will receive £30,000 per year over the next three years from the Dunhill Medical Trust, which specialises in support for the elderly and research into diseases and issues relating to ageing.
“We are absolutely delighted to be receiving this level of support,” said Lost Chord chief executive Helena Muller, the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire.
“We need more than £200,000 per year to continue at our present level so the generosity of the Dunhill Medical Trust means a lot to our continuing success.
“We were so pleased that a representative of the Dunhill Medical Trust came to one of our events to observe our team of professional musicians at work and see how they stimulate such a wonderful response and change the lives of dementia sufferers.”
Lost Chord, whose patrons include Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and Lesley Garrett, has recently been developing a national programme, with events for dementia sufferers in London and Wales.
The charity’s next fund-raising event will be a wine tasting evening at the Fusion Bistro, Butcher Works, Sheffield, on October 8 from 7.30pm.
For tickets or further information call 01909 563335 or email: helena@lostcord.fsnet.co.uk

Help celebrate Lost Chord’s tenth anniversary

Lost ChordSOUTH Yorkshire charity Lost Chord is celebrating its tenth anniversary with two major fund-raising events.
There will be a special tenth anniversary concert on the evening of June 20 at All Saints Church, Laughton, near Rotherham, followed by a black tie champagne reception at nearby Slade Hooton Hall.
And on Friday, November 6, Sheffield’s Whirlowbrook Hall will be the setting for a Masquerade Ball and fireworks spectacular, with drinks reception and dinner.
Lost Chord was launched in 1999 by businesswoman Helena Muller, this year’s High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, to provide musical stimulation for dementia sufferers in homes and day centres across the region.
The charity now provides regular musical sessions at more than 60 residential homes throughout South Yorkshire and more recently the project has been expanded nationally, with pilot schemes in both Cardiff and London.
Celebrity patrons include Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and Doncaster soprano Lesley Garrett.
Tickets to both tenth anniversary events are available by calling 0845 302 6868 or by visiting the Lost Chord website at www.lost-chord.org.uk

Angela’s Lost Chord appeal

TELVISION favourite Angela Rippon has added her support to South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord.
The popular presenter and former newsreader has spoken publicly about how her own mother Edna’s life has been destroyed by Alzheimer’s Disease.
So she was delighted to be invited to present an appeal on behalf of Lost Chord, which will be screened on BBC1 this Sunday, April 19, as part of BBC1’s monthly Lifeline charity aid programme.
Lost Chord, whose patrons include Cliff Richard, Dame Vera Lynn and Doncaster diva Lesley Garrett, produces more than 850 musical sessions every year, using professional musicians to stimulate responses from dementia sufferers in care homes and day centres.
Launched in 1999 by businesswoman and High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Helena Muller, Lost Chord started out catering to the needs of dementia sufferers in Rotherham but now covers more than 60 residential homes across South Yorkshire.
More recently the project has been expanded nationally, with pilot schemes in both Cardiff and London.
In the BBC film, Angela meets residents at Laureate Court care home in Rotherham, where she sees for herself the impact that live music has on the residents as they are entertained by soprano Rebecca Rudge and pianist Anna Tillbrook.
“We are delighted that the BBC has given us this marvellous opportunity to show people the great work that Lost Chord’s team of professional musicians are doing with our concert series,” said Helena.
“And we were even more thrilled when Angela Rippon agreed to present the item for us.
“As somebody who has first hand experience of the devastating effects of dementia, Angela was able to bring a personal touch to the film and speak with great understanding and enthusiasm about the work of Lost Chord.”
The BBC Lifeline appeal on behalf of Lost Chord will be screened by BBC1 on Sunday, April 19, at 5pm.

Press releases on behalf of Lost Chord by John Highfield PR. For further information call 07776 180911 or email: info@johnhighfieldpr.co.uk