Millie came to us this Summer in her search for a college placement. She quickly became a valued addition to the Music24 team, helping out at our sessions and meeting our group participants. Touched by Millie’s account of her time with us, we thought we would share it with you.
“My time at Music24 is an experience I can’t quite put into words. I could never have envisaged how much the group, the members and its team, would mean to me and how much of an impact it would have.
Music24 has given me some of the best experiences I believe I will ever have in my life. I have learnt so much about myself, about working in a team, working with individuals who have dementia and their families and how much music therapy can influence people for the better. When I began my college work placement hours, I quickly learned that Music24 is a community unlike any other I have seen. It is a place where it is safe to complain, to love, to be happy, to be sad and to come alive.
From the start it was easy to see how much this group and everyone in it was appreciated and how important it was to people. You could have a bad day or a bad week but as soon as you step through those doors, it was a relief. It’s a place where no one is seen as a diagnosis, each individual is known for their personality, their cheekiness, the dancers or the singers, the drummers and percussionists. It’s a place to get to know people, to share experiences and insecurities that can benefit everyone and their experiences living with dementia.
I wish more people knew about Music24 and the work that they do. They’ll never know what they’re missing out on. These people have come together to create their own community and their own support system. They’ve made their small corner of the world feel bigger.”
We were so pleased with Millie’s contribution to our work during her placement, that we really couldn’t bear to part with her. We offered her the chance to remain part of the Music24 team on a regular basis and we are thrilled to say that she agreed!
Such a great experience for both Millie and Music24 means we will continue to welcome students for placements in the future and are excited to meet more young people who are passionate to learn more about the work we do in the community!