The Coronavirus Appeal: Soundabout

Soundabout is a charity that uses music to empower people with profound learning difficulties. The charity began in 1995 and uses multi-sensory music-making techniques to help unlock individuals' potential.

Soundabout works across two main areas. It trains teachers, parents and carers as well as leading group music sessions and individual sessions within a family home to help service users and their families according to their needs. Both strands of their work are typically carried out in person and using interaction between musical practitioner, parent or carer and service user. These in-person sessions are vital and can offer community, self-expression and fun. They are a vital part of connecting within a community and between families in addition to stimulating communication.

The charity has been hit hard by coronavirus, losing fundraising opportunities and, due to lockdown, unable to run its usual community and tailored individual sessions through the social distancing measures imposed. As a result, this has been a double blow to the charity. Added to this, due to the pressure placed on families at this trying time, demand for Soundabout's services has surged with more people needing the charity to offer a sense of normality and hope.

Soundabout has developed online services so that they can continue to be there for those who need them.

The Merchant Taylors' Foundation are pleased to have been able to support Soundabout, providing a grant that will allow them to be able to continue their important work in supporting those who depend on them.

Watch a video below from Soundabout CEO: