Miles of Smiles at Awards Night Miles of smiles when Lost Chord won the local Community Achievement Award. The ceremony for announcing the winner was staged at the Carlton Park Hotel on 2nd November 2006. Andy Kershaw from BBC Radio Sheffield performed as the Master of Ceremonies. Councillor Peter Wooton, Mayor of Rotherham presented Helena with the award. It was a brilliant evening and thanks to VAR’s organisational skills everyone had a superb time. Part of the citation for Lost Chord read: ‘The concerts have proven to have a profound effect on dementia sufferers with some speaking for the first time in months during concerts!’

Media Coverage Helena has spoken about Lost Chord on BBC Radio Sheffield several times in recent years and we have been approached to make a video for the ‘Big Screen’ in Rotherham.  The work is being undertaken by students from Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and will be ready for the Big Screen in the Spring of 2008..

Another Royal Visit On the 3rd September 2003, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester was invited to officially open the new Intermediate Care Unit at Netherfield Court Residential Home and Lost Chord was asked to provide a concert for the residents. The Duchess was extremely impressed with the performance and spent some time talking to the musicians Clare Debono (Soprano) and Siohban O’Higgins (Pianist) along with the Chief Executive, Helena Muller. She showed a great deal of interest in how the scheme was established and the extent to which it operated throughout the area paying particular attention to the effect of live music on the responses from dementia sufferers. Photo: The Dutchess chatting to one of the residents after the concert.

Mayor's Charity Lost Chord was honoured to be selected as one of the three charities nominated by the Mayor & Mayoress of Rotherham for 2004/5. Duing their year of office they have raised more than £40,000 and have donated £9,000 to Lost Chord. “We would like to take this opportunity of thanking both Fred Wright and Natalie Warriner for choosing Lost Chord and for all their subsequent help and support.”

National Media Coverage In September 2004 Lost Chord was short listed for the National Lottery Helping Hands Award and as a result it was selected to feature in the Sunday Express in the following article on 19th September: “Thanks to National Lottery funding an innovative project in South Yorkshire is improving the quality of life for people who are suffering from dementia. Lost Chord is the brainchild of Helena Muller” ...the article continued to give a glowing report of Lost Chord.

Radio Sheffield On the 5th November 2004 Lost Chord was invited to take part in the National Lottery 10th Anniversary Celebrations on Radio Sheffield hosted by Rony Robinson. Several local projects were invited to attend. We were all interviewed by Rony and invited to contribute to the phone-in. It was very interesting to hear how the National Lottery had made a difference to other projects. “The project leaders were then asked which scheme impressed them the most and I’m proud to say that Lost Chord came on top!”

South Yorkshire Times The funding package from Arts Council Yorkshire to cover concerts in 13 homes for 2006 was announced in the South Yorkshire Times on 10th March 2005. A photographer came out to a concert at Dearne Valley residential home performed by Rebecca Rudge (soprano) and Caroline Clipson (piano).

Award hits the right note for charity A recent article in the Rotherham Advertiser on 6th May 2005 gives the following report: A Charity which helps dementia sufferers through music has every reason to blow its own trumpet – after scooping an award for £20,000. The charity’s efforts have been recognised by a £20,000 GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award in conjunction with the independent health charity – the King’s Fund. Helena said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded this award – a real testament to the hard work and commitment of the musicians and our volunteers. This award will enable us to raise awareness to the plight of dementia sufferers nationally and reach more sufferers than ever before.”