Nottinghamshire County Council and the Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group have commissioned a workshop for carers to learn about using the power of music to enhance their quality of life.

It will provide them with a specially-designed toolkit “My Music Oasis” from Nottinghamshire charity, musicworks.

The workshop is free for carers and is part of a series of workshops all over the county.

The “My Music Oasis” workshop is designed for people caring for others, and aims to recognise and celebrate the vital role they play, often at a significant cost to themselves.

The fun and interactive workshop, run by musicworks’ training partner, JoCo Learning and Development, looks at how the “My Music Oasis” toolkit is used to capture personalised music and make beneficial use of it in the daily life of a carer.

It will be an opportunity to meet other carers and socialise whilst creating their own personalised playlists. Participants will receive the toolkit free of charge to keep and use.

The “My Music Oasis” toolkit, designed by Nottinghamshire based charity, musicworks enables Carers to draw together pieces of music and memories that are significant to them and can be used to aid rest and relaxation, and focus the mind on the good times that they have shared with the person they care for.

John Osborne, chair and artistic director of musicworks, said: “Understanding the power of music, and how to use it, is a profound way to empower your health and enrich your life.

“Music has been shown to ease physical discomfort and pain, ease emotional distress, promote spiritual awareness, aid relaxation, enhance relationships, improve quality of life, support life review and bring joy and positivity which are all vital to allow Carers to continue their support of others on a day to day basis.

“The previous workshop was an inspiring experience – a real privilege to meet such wonderful people and to support them in their role as a carer.”

Marie Smith, a carer who attended a previous workshop, said: “I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needn’t have worried, the welcome was warm and friendly.

“We spent a lovely afternoon sharing favourite tunes and recounting the memories they evoked. There were lots of smiles and laughter with a few tears in between. At the end of the workshop there was a real buzz.

“We left with new found friendships and our spirits high. I love playing my playlist, it encourages me to take time out for myself. The workshop was a really enjoyable experience, one I would recommend to other carers.”
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Penny Spice from Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with both our local NHS and independent sector colleagues on this exciting and innovative project.”

The workshop will take place on 2nd March, from 1pm-4pm, at the Towers, Botany Avenue, Mansfield.

Carers who are interested in taking part should call 0115 9145879 or 07955016377, email [email protected] or book online at www.joco.gb.net/shop to book a space. The workshop is free of charge.

Places are limited to 12 participants per workshop. To be eligible for a free place, carers must be registered with a GP practice in Mansfield/Ashfield. Facilities for the cared for person are not available at the workshop but replacement care costs will be refunded.