Ryan Yard:“I recently set up a YouTube channel for a hobby and was amazed by the number of wonderful people I have met. One of these was Russ Green and we began talking about his experiences with PTSD. As a musician with my own mental health issues I felt very passionate about combining my music with his cause. After discussing his links with PTSD Resolution it seemed like the perfect cause to raise money for.”
“I set to work composing music for an album that would be a gift to anybody that chose to donate and in the process offer beautiful music that could be enjoyed long after donations had been collected. I have enjoyed the process greatly as music is a form of therapy for me and if it can raise money for a good cause whilst offering joy and happiness to others then I feel I will have achieved my goal. The album will be available to download for those that donated May.”
Biography: Ryan Yard is a composer, pianist and teacher living and working in Shropshire. He holds a first class honours degree in composition and is a qualified teacher. He has recorded many studio albums influenced by the likes of Mike Oldfield, Jean Michel Jarre and Ludovico Einaudi. He has worked with many influential musicians and producers, including Tom Newman, Rob Reed and Les Penning. Ryan teaches piano and music theory as well as producing books and transcriptions.
We’re buzzing with excitement as we bring you the UK and regional results from this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch. If you can’t wait, take a look right now: see the results here.
The house sparrow grabs top spot again!
This bold, noisy, community-minded bird has landed in top spot in Birdwatch, for the 20th year in a row, despite more than 10 million pairs disappearing in the UK since the late 1960s. However, house sparrow numbers have remained relatively stable over the last twenty years with signs of increases in some parts of the UK.
Celebrating World Music Therapy Week It’s the first ever World Music Therapy Week! To celebrate, we’ll be debunking some common music therapy misconceptions.
We’ll be sharing a myth-busting blog from our music therapists, stories of how music therapy has a positive impact and discussing what exactly music therapy is! Tune into our social channels to be part of the conversation.
Find out more below, and catch up on more news from us.
What do you know about music therapy? Is music therapy really only for children? Does it only take place in groups? Test your music therapy knowledge, as our music therapists break down some common misconceptions.
Read now How should we talk about disability? In this thought-provoking blog post, music therapist Stella speaks on how we can begin to take personal responsibility for our language use on disability – and why it’s important.
Bringing music therapy back to Glasgow We are very excited to have partnered with multi-disciplinary arts venue SWG3! This partnership will allow us to bring music therapy back to the people of Glasgow.
What’s it like to be a music therapy student? Ever wondered what it’s like to study on our Master of Music Therapy programme? Chloe gives us a sneak peek of a day in her life as a student with Nordoff and Robbins.
Enquire about music therapy Music therapy can help people of all ages and circumstances. Did you know that you can refer yourself? Find out which of our centres are currently accepting new referrals, and how to apply.
18 people die by suicide every day in the UK. We’re asking you to stand with us and help tell anyone and everyone who can’t see a way out: “Things can change”. To help more people to Stay. Stand with us Ash’s Story “You might feel like you can’t carry on, but I promise there are so many reasons to stay.” Ash
When Ash was struggling with furlough, lockdown and a new baby, things got too much. He wanted to end it all, but our webchat helped him to see a way forward. We want more people like Ash to find hope, to find a reason to Stay. Help CALM be there, no matter what “CALM’s helpline saved my life. They listened without judging me and helped me make a plan for the future.”
Someone contacts the CALM helpline every 59 seconds. Each call we take could be the one that helps someone decide to Stay. Whether it’s £3, £8 or £25, whatever you can donate would make a huge difference and could help fund a potentially life-saving call for someone like Ash. Donate today Suicide rates are unacceptable. We need to do more. “We know the risk factors associated with suicide, so we need to be proactively taking actions to address them” Wendy, Head of Services
We lose 125 people to suicide every week. We need real change – and that means dedicated government action that covers housing, education, health, money, and employment. Read more Find out how you can help save a life We know talking about suicide can seem awkward and uncomfortable – but it could also be the most important conversation you ever have. We’re here to give you the tools to start a potentially life-saving conversation, so that no one has to struggle on their own. THE FACTS Read more THE SIGNS Read more THE WORDS Read more THE SUPPORT Read more Take action against suicide, sign up for the Lost Hours Walk When the clocks go back, we walk forward against suicide. Create your own Lost Hours Walk, help CALM continue to be there for anyone who’s struggling and raise vital awareness and cash for our services. Walk for CALM
2023 marks 25 years since I ran my first marathon – London marathon April 1998. To celebrate that milestone I know I can’t do a marathon distance now, however, a gentle(!) half marathon through the suburban delights of Reading finishing at their football stadium seems a perfect way to spend the first Sunday in April 2023 🙂
My last run was a 10K back in 2016 and I haven’t run properly in over 18 months. Let’s have one last race hurrah raising funds for the vital & caring work done by the Sobell House Hospice charity.
Thank you for reading and any support gratefully received.
I will aim to update on my training & fundraising (any ideas gratefully received!). I am currently back using the excellent NHS/BBC app Couch To 5k This time around listening to BBC Radio 1 DJ Reece Parkinson (don’t listen to Radio 1 I hasten to add!) as my ‘Mr Motivator’. he’s good but miss the dulcet tones of Michael Jordon.
Our flagship fundraiser, the O2 Silver Clef Awards, is just around the corner (tomorrow)! We’re looking forward to many special moments, including hearing the story of Inez, told in person by her father, Julian.
Another special moment we’re eagerly anticipating is the auction of George Michael’s personal Bechstein piano. You can register and live stream the auction, below!
Why not stay up to date with the O2 Silver Clefs on social media tomorrow?
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And we’d also love to invite you to TikTok, where we’ll be sharing video highlights of our flagship fundraiser!
“Inez was mesmerised from the start. Fraser listens, and with the piano, he’s able to articulate something that she understands. Sometimes she just gazes into his eyes.” The incredible testimony Inez’s dad, Julian, gave on his daughter’s experience of music therapy with Fraser. Watch Inez’s story, below. Watch Inez’ story
A very special auction of George Michael’s personal Bechstein piano With heartfelt thanks to George’s Estate, we have the privilege of hosting this auction at our O2 Silver Clef Awards. It’s open to anyone in the world, and you can live stream it on Friday 1st July at 2pm. Every penny raised will go towards music therapy. Register today Music Mudder returns! Is your business ready to face the music (and mud)? Music Mudder returns to Surrey on Friday 2nd September, challenging brave Nordoff Robbins supporters to the mud-run of a lifetime! This messy team-building fundraiser brings music and mud together, in teams of 10! Sign up your team
Happy 80th Birthday, Macca! The Beatles Story in Liverpool (a museum dedicated to the fab four) is celebrating Sir Paul McCartney’s 80th by raising funds for us! Beatles fans can sign Paul’s digital birthday card, and Donate – bringing to life the power of music, through music therapy. Read more and donate
Raising funds for music therapy – in the name of heavy metal! 🤘 Heavy Metal Truants finally hosted their London to Download Festival cycle after 2 years of virtual events. Joining the team was Rob Rolfe from Enter Shikari, who wanted to support us after visiting our London Centre. Sponsor Rob, below! Sponsor Rob
The O2 Silver Clef Awards return on 1st July! We’ll be honouring some of the biggest names in the music industry (including our O2 Silver Clef Award winner, the legendary Peter Gabriel!) All whilst raising hundreds of thousands in vital funding for Nordoff Robbins. Read more on who of your favourite artists have scooped an O2 Silver Clef Award, below! Read more on O2 Silver Clefs
Jamal Edwards MBE will be honoured at the Music Industry Trust Awards 2022 The prestigious MITs Awards 2022 will honour Jamal Edwards MBE. Jamal will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to the music industry. As a music entrepreneur, DJ and founder of the multifaceted music platform SB.TV. Read more about the MITs Tickets now available for Legends of Rugby 2023 The star-studded Legends of Rugby event will once again return, to bring music and rugby together! Raising vital funds for Nordoff Robbins. Congratulations to the 2023 Legends, Alex Goode and Emily Scarratt. Book your exclusive table, below! Buy Legends of Rugby tickets Get your tickets to the Rock N Roll Circus in Newcastle this June We’ve partnered with Rock N Roll Circus! The all-new touring concept that will touch down in Newcastle this June. Enjoy Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Libertines, Years & Years – as well as a first class circus experience. All in aid of your favourite music charity! Buy Rock N Roll Circus tickets Our Summer School for music therapists returns in July 2022 Are you a music therapist? Join our online Summer School to learn more about the Nordoff Robbins approach to music therapy. From workshops, seminars and discussions, to inputting on leading research. We’d love to see you there! Read more about Summer School
Thank youfor supporting Nordoff Robbins.
You are helping us to create a world where through music therapy, human potential is recognised, witnessed and celebrated – regardless of profound disability, illness or social exclusion.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week… You’re going to be hearing lots of chat about #awareness. But we know awareness is nothing without action.
The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year is loneliness. It’s normal to feel lonely sometimes, but we also know it can make it difficult to get on with your everyday life. We’ve put together some stuff to help you through. Take action this MHAW How To: Make Mates Mates. We take the piss out of them, drink pints with them and share deep chats with them, but we can also drift apart from them, or find it hard to make them. Here’s some ways to make new friends and stay connected with old ones. Get started Kyle Walker teams up with CALMWinner of three Premier Leagues. Regular for England. Now the designer of a home and away kit for CALM.
We’ve teamed up with Kyle Walker and Puma to release these limited edition kits that represent the highs and lows of his amazing career – and the support which has helped him through it all.
Not only can you get your hands on the wicked new kit, FIFA 22 players can also unlock the kits now in FIFA Unlimited Team. Get the kit
TAKE ACTION WITH TEAM CALM Just £8 will answer a potentially life-saving call, so if you want to help support our life-saving services why not do something you love to raise some cash for our services? From burping the national anthem to fund-raving, have a bit of fun and do whatever tickles your pickle.
Join us We’re on your side If you’re struggling, remember CALM are here every single day. Whatever it is that’s weighing on your mind, you can talk to us. No matter who you are or what you’re going through, our helpline is here for you. Need support?
Supporters of the month Declan rowed a hardcore half a million metres in April to raise life-saving cash for CALM.
Richard is hosting a kick-about in memory of his mate Micheal.
Zoe and Huw will be taking on the Swansea Epic Trail this May in memory of mate Mike.
Omar will be hosting a gig in memory of mate Scott. What a legend.
Today is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a week where we encourage everyone to begin a conversation about the importance of protecting your mental health, and raising awareness of mental health UK-wide.
This year’s theme is “Loneliness”. We chose this theme because of the way loneliness effects millions of us and it was something many of us experienced during the pandemic. Our recent survey of 6,000 UK adults showed that 1 in 4 people said they felt lonely some or all of the time over the last month. Severe and enduring loneliness is a key driver of poor mental health. But we still find it very hard to talk about. That is why we want to encourage people who feel able to, to share their stories using the hashtag #IveBeenThere.
Check out our Mental Health Awareness Week animation here Our newly published research shows anyone can experience loneliness, but there are particular groups who show an increased prevalence of loneliness that puts their mental health at risk. This includes being between 18 and 24 years of age, living alone, being unemployed and having a long-term health condition or disability.
The stigma of loneliness makes it hard for people to talk about – people worry about being judged or feeling a burden, which is why we want to shine a light on the topic and raise awareness of the links between loneliness and mental health. We’ve created some helpful advice on how to cope with feelings of loneliness, and how to support someone who may be feeling lonely.
We’ve created policy recommendations to help tackle loneliness, which include encouraging policymakers to develop community resources, increase support for children and young people in education settings, and ensure access to digital technology in residential care settings.
Find out how you can get involved in supporting us this Mental Health Awareness Week, through donating, fundraising or sharing your experience of loneliness, using the hashtag #IveBeenThere on social media.
Mark Rowland Chief Executive Mental Health Foundation
This month Music for Dementia and UK Music released the Power of Music Report which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. We also share Richard’s music therapy story and serve up a new episode of Behind the Base with PizzaExpress.
Power of Music Report Did you know music therapy reduces agitation and the need for medication in 67% of people with dementia? The Power of Music Report outlines some of the outstanding academic and scientific research which illustrates the true potential of music as a therapeutic and medical tool. Read the report
“He just began to flourish in music” Richard, a former singer, who suffered a life-threatening stroke last year, has rediscovered his voice thanks to music therapy sessions with Nordoff Robbins. Richard and his music therapist Jo spoke to ITV News Wales about the progress they made together. Watch on ITV News Behind the Base with L Devine Behind The Base with PizzaExpress returns with yet another musical talent. This month L Devine talks about about expression through songwriting, her first relationship and music that had strong influence, later taking to the stage to perform “Daughter”. Watch this episode Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust award Nordoff Robbins £4k We are delighted to announce that we have received £4,000 of grant funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support music therapy at Erskine Care Home in Anniesland in the West of Scotland. Tell me more
The idea is to have a whole host of gigs/events mention via their social media posts the work of the Nordoff Robbins charity on and around the 8 February each year
Help CALM be there, no matter what “CALM’s helpline saved my life. They listened without judging me and helped me make a plan for the future.”
Suicide rates are unacceptable. We need to do more. “We know the risk factors associated with suicide, so we need to be proactively taking actions to address them” Wendy, Head of Services 
THE FACTS 
THE SIGNS 
THE WORDS 
THE SUPPORT 
Take action against suicide, sign up for the Lost Hours Walk When the clocks go back, we walk forward against suicide. Create your own Lost Hours Walk, help CALM continue to be there for anyone who’s struggling and raise vital awareness and cash for our services. 
Mates. We take the piss out of them, drink pints with them and share deep chats with them, but we can also drift apart from them, or find it hard to make them. Here’s some ways to make new friends and stay connected with old ones. 
Winner of three Premier Leagues. Regular for England. Now the designer of a home and away kit for CALM. 
Mark Rowland
Fifty Gigs In A Day 