One in four people in England experience mental health problems annually (‘Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: results of household survey’ McManus, S., Meltzer, H., Brugha, T. S., Bebbington, P. E., & Jenkins, R. (2009), Around 900,000 people have a diagnosis of dementia (Alzheimer’s Society, 2019), Three-quarters of older people are lonely and have not spoken to anyone about how they feel (Jo Cox Commission, 2017).

The Ushindi Wellbeing Music Café was borne out of a need to draw the community together and address these public health concerns, using the power of music to improve wellbeing. Participants do not need any musical ability or talent, simply a desire to engage in live music activity for their own wellbeing. The café sessions are led by Ushindi Music café to wellness team and other specially trained community musicians who understand the therapeutic value of music and supported by other volunteers. The sessions include live music, singing, movement and music-making as participants are provided with a wide variety of percussion and other instruments.