Partners in Autism launch music group thanks to the Postcode Lottery
10 March 2010
Partners in Autism service has hit the high note by being awarded over £8k from the Postcode Lottery Fund.
Partners in Autism are a joint venture between TPS, the ARC, NHS Building Health Communities and Dumfries and Galloway Social Work Department. Supporting young people in transition and adults who are on the autistic spectrum, Partners in Autism aims to develop their social, domestic and communications skills, provide sexual health advice, IT Training and has set up a forum for carers.
The service is constantly looking for innovative ways by which to engage with and maintain the interest of young people aged 16 to 30 and one proven method is through the medium of music. This money will help fund a music group and provide tuition and a range of instruments to people on the autism spectrum.
A group of people supported by the service had expressed an interest in learning to compose and record music both for their own enjoyment and to be part of a band they hoped to form, so Partners in Autism made an application to the Postcode Lottery Fund. The £8618 awarded the service will help to fund a music tutor until 2011 and buy some more instruments which are portable so that people within services throughout the Dumfries and Galloway area can benefit.
Dave Bleasdale, Operations Manager for Turning Point Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway services said:
"Playing music is a great way for people to relax and it is also beneficial to the people we support for leaning and personal development. We are extremely grateful to the Postcode Lottery Fund for providing us with the means to develop our provision of music within the service. It is an essential form of communication especially for people on the spectrum who find social interaction a challenge.
"It is our aim to run three music workshops in different areas of Dumfries and Galloway so that as many people can benefit from them as possible.
"We would expect people who engage with this service to develop musically, emotionally and as individuals, with a marked increase in their confidence, their interaction skills and their ability to communicate, including the picking up on nonverbal cues which so many of us take for granted.
"It is our aim to run three music workshops in different areas of Dumfries and Galloway so that as many people can benefit from them as possible."
Ends
Notes to Editors
- For more information please contact Marisa Mahood, Communications Manager on 0141 427 8200, 07900 498 055 (marisamahood@turningpointscotland.com)
- Photo and interview opportunities with staff, service users and families.
- Turning Point Scotland provides person centred support to adults with a range of complex needs across Scotland.
- TPS provides services in the following areas: Criminal justice, mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse, autism, homelessness and early onset dementia, acquired brain injury and Huntington's. For more information visit http://www.turningpointscotland.com/
