Parkstone Connect Day Centre

Music therapy is much more than just music. It’s about opening doors for individuals to communicate, express themselves and take control, as well as feel part of something bigger.

Parkstone Connect Day Centre

Parkstone Connect Day Centre is a day service for adults in the local community with a wide range of support needs. The aim of the centre is to encourage members to express their views, as well as to actively shape and monitor the service, and live active lives within their local communities. With a wide range of activities and support on offer, the centre also serves as a space to spend a relaxing day.

Our partnership with Parkstone Connect Day Centre began in 2007. Over the years, music therapy has created opportunities for adults at the day centre to both engage and express themselves.

At Parkstone Connect, we work with clients from a variety of life circumstances. One client, who experiences dementia, sometimes feels upset and subsequently can find it hard to engage in activities. By providing a platform to really connect to the music, music therapy has brought calmness to adults at the centre. The benefits have been long lasting – they’re able to better engage in other activities afterwards and remain in a happier mood for the rest of the day.

Another client was previously a guitarist in a band, but was no longer able to play after experiencing a stroke. Despite his initial misgivings, taking part in music therapy sessions particularly helped him to grow his confidence. He began to bring his guitar along to sessions and sing songs with our music therapist to the group. A staff member at Parkstone C onnect Day Centre said: “He became a much happier person generally.”

We produced this story in partnership with Parkstone Connect Day Centre.