Supporting people living with dementia through music
The Power of Music Fund
Music can be a lifeline for people living with dementia and their carers. The Power of Music Fund helps local groups and organisations bring music to the people who need it most — and builds the evidence to make music a lasting part of dementia care.
Why music matters for dementia
While dementia is a progressive condition without a cure, music can improve mood, offer opportunities for self-expression and creativity, strengthen relationships, and reconnect people with those they love.
Research suggests engagement with music offers significant social, emotional and cognitive benefits for people living with dementia — from reducing agitation and the need for medication to improving communication and supporting identity, even in the later stages of the condition.
About the Power of Music Fund
The Power of Music Fund is an ambitious fund, managed by the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), that supports local groups and organisations providing music activities for people living with dementia.
It was kickstarted by a £1 million donation from The Utley Foundation and brings funders together — government bodies, philanthropists, trusts and foundations, businesses and individual donors — with the aim of raising £5 million in total.
This shared investment model is a practical way of funding community-based social prescribing, so that people who would benefit from non-medical support can be referred to it through the health system.
Join the Power of Music Learning Network
In 2024, NASP and Manchester Camerata launched the Power of Music Learning Network for music and dementia projects across the UK. Open to anyone, it’s a place to share learning, discuss challenges and hear from members about their work, with monthly webinars focused on best practice and celebrating the work of our members.
If you work in music and dementia, we’d love you to join our growing community.
What we have achieved so far
NASP and Music for all have provided multiyear small grants to over 200 local organisations delivering music activities for PLWD, championing best practice, and focusing on areas of high need.
From projects to lasting change: Centres of Excellence
To turn one-off projects into lasting change, the Fund supports Centres of Excellence that test and embed music in dementia care:
- The Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia (appointed April 2024) is led by Manchester Camerata, working with Greater Manchester NHS, the Alzheimer’s Society, the University of Manchester, GM Combined Authority and local VCSE partners. It is tracking patient journeys to gather evidence of cost savings for the NHS, and designing new models of care that can be scaled across the UK.
- The Centre of Excellence for Training in Music and Dementia (launched spring 2025) is led by Age UK Hertfordshire, focusing on equipping the health and social care workforce to bring music into everyday dementia care.
Spotlight: embedding music in dementia care across Hertfordshire
As the second Centre of Excellence, the Hertfordshire programme — led by Age UK Hertfordshire with the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association, Music24, Hertfordshire County Council and other partners — is training care home staff to become ‘Music Champions’. Rather than relying on scarce specialist music therapists, it gives everyday staff the skills and confidence to use music to calm distress, support communication and improve wellbeing as part of daily care. Over two years it aims to reach 100 care homes.
The Year 1 evaluation shows promising results across resident wellbeing, quality of care, workforce development and the wider system. Residents were calmer, more engaged and more connected, with reduced agitation. Staff reported improvements in communication and emotional wellbeing — in some cases, residents who rarely spoke began singing familiar songs or reconnecting with personal memories. The evaluation also suggests music-based approaches may reduce the need for medication, and offers strong value for money: one care home manager described it as a long-term investment, ‘like a solar panel’.
“One resident living with Parkinson’s disease, who had shown limited communication, surprised staff, and family members by singing every word to a well-known Elvis song during a group session. Staff working with that resident described the moment as deeply emotional and an example of how music can help unlock connection and communication even in later stages of illness.”
What the Fund is aiming for
Our goal is to make accessing music ‘business as usual’ in dementia care and support. The Fund aims to:
- Convene funders and investors to support community music groups, increasing investment;
- Generate evidence that music groups have a profound impact — significant enough to reduce demand on the NHS;
- Ensure clinicians, commissioners and providers value the role of music; and
- Systemise music for dementia across the UK.
Who is involved
The Fund is supported by The Utley Foundation, Arts Council England, The Rayne Foundation, Music for All and other donors — including members of the public — and we continue to welcome new investors to grow the fund.
Applications for funding are currently closed. Sign up to our Power of Music mailing list to hear about future rounds, updates and ways to get involved.
Background: the Power of Music report and consortium
The Fund grew out of the 2022 Power of Music report, published by UK Music and Music for Dementia, which set out how music can improve the nation’s health and wellbeing — supporting people living with dementia, depression and other conditions, easing pressure on services, and creating financial savings. One of its central recommendations was for extra funding to make music projects accessible to those who need them most. The Power of Music Fund is NASP’s response to that recommendation.
NASP is part of the Power of Music consortium, a group of organisations implementing the report’s recommendations. The steering group includes UK Music, Nordoff and Robbins, Manchester Camerata, Music for All, Music for Dementia, The Utley Foundation and NASP. Over 200 organisations have engaged with the consortium so far.
Tools and more ways music helps
Music Can
Music Can is a free resource to help make music part of personalised care for people living with dementia, with a directory to find support and services in your area. Find out more
