UK Music and Music for Dementia joined forces to publish a report that outlines how to use music to help improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

The report has been created to amplify – to government, business and the general public – how music can be used to improve the lives of those dealing with illnesses such as dementia, depression, and other debilitating conditions.

At a time when health and social care services remain under intense pressure, it demonstrates how the use of music can support staff, create financial savings and help to achieve improved health and care outcomes.

Crucially, the report outlines a series of ambitious but achievable recommendations which can be quickly implemented to deliver positive change.

The Power of Music report sets out four key recommendations:

• The appointment of the UK’s first Power of Music Commissioner to champion and coordinate all the work in this area – setting up a new Government taskforce and a Life With Music Consortium to spearhead positive change.
• A major public awareness campaign to show how the power of music can change lives, improve health and bring communities together – supported by a new online information platform, development of which is being led by Universal Music UK.
• Support frontline workers by providing better training on the role of music in health and care – in particular by establishing an accessible training module to help practitioners understand how best to use music as part of the care they provide in their work setting.
• Extra funding to help make music accessible to all delivered by new investment partnerships between Government, industry and philanthropists.

Read the report here.