Join our upcoming training and placement opportunity to explore how to connect with older adults through music in their own homes. This placement is open to musicians based in Manchester and Trafford and will involve training sessions and home visits taking place from June to December 2025. Please register your interest by Friday 30th May!

String of Hearts is looking for a freelance Project Coordinator to coordinate musical home visits for older adults in Trafford and Manchester. The role involves managing participant referrals and coordinating musician training and visits to participants' homes. The vacancy is open until Friday 23rd May 2025.

String of Hearts is delighted to have been shortlisted for a 'Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award' at the Northern Music Awards, hosted by Nordoff Robbins. The awards recognise organisations offering high-quality creative provision in the North of England that uses music to support people's health and wellbeing. Congratulations to all of the nominees!

String of Hearts and Carers Manchester present 'Unsung Heroes', a new song written by unwaged carers and the people they care for, with the support of String of Hearts. The song shines a light on the challenges they face and hopes for the future. Watch the full video below.

We're delighted to announce that String of Hearts has been supported by the Power of Music Fund! This funding will help us to support people living with dementia and their carers through 1-to-1 music phone calls for those who are not able to access our activities in person. Huge thank you to National Academy for Social Prescribing, Arts Council England, Music for Dementia, The Utley Foundation and Music for All.

A huge thank you to One Manchester housing organisation for supporting String of Hearts to deliver music-making sessions for over 50s in Manchester through their community fund. We're exciting to meet residents of their Independent Living Communities! Read the full article below.

Local community arts organisation String of Hearts has received a grant from Home Instead Charities to support its admirable work in the community, particularly aiding older adults facing isolation and long-term conditions. Read the full article below.

As 2023 comes to a close, we held a showcase event at Limelight Old Trafford to celebrate our members' achievements and share the power of music with an audience of family, carers and partner organisations. Watch the video on YouTube!

String of Hearts is delighted to have won a Manchester Culture Award for our work in promoting health & wellbeing for older people in Wythenshawe! A huge thank you and congratulations to all of our wonderful partners, participants, musicians, team members, volunteers and funders.

String of Hearts member Evrill has been featured in a new campaign by the National Academy of Social Prescribing, sharing her journey to String of Hearts after being referred by her GP. Hope you enjoy reading the full article and watching the video!

String of Hearts Limelight group were joined by Dr Radha Modgil and Justin Moorhouse to create a video shining a light on the positive impacts of community music-making and social prescribing for older adults.

In March 2023 we collaborated with Wythenshawe Good Neighbours to run a showcase event for International Women's Day, celebrating songs written, sung and made famous by women. We explored so many artists across multiple decades!

Thanks to the community reporters at Talking About My Generation - a Greater Manchester news outlet shining a light on over 50s - for this feature about our showcase event in December with older people in Old Trafford!

Thanks to the community reporters at Talking About My Generation - a Greater Manchester news outlet shining a light on over 50s - for this feature about our 'Spotlights' album!

In March we shared a poster presentation at the 4th International Social Prescribing Conference which explored older people's engagement with music and social prescribing, including partnership working, accessibility and co-design of the social prescribing journey.

String of Hearts was featured as an example of best practice in music and social prescribing by The Independent, alongside other music organisations and the National Academy of Social Prescribing. Read about participant Graham's story here!

Thanks to ITV News Granda Reports for featuring our 'Spotlights' album! The feature shared the story of String of Hearts participant Evrill and her song 'Brave Up', which was written over the phone with musician Amy Bowles.

'Spotlights' is an album written by local residents from Trafford and Wythenshawe in collaboration with String of Hearts. The album shines a light on the creativity of our local community and celebrates their lives, stories and ideas.

Find out more or listen here!

In this blog we share our experiences of setting up the Music Hotline - our music phone call initiative for people without internet access. We share the inspiration and learning behind the initiative and some stories from people who have taken part. Thank you to Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance for the feature! Click on the link below to read the full blog.

We're delighted to be working with Buzz Health & Wellbeing Service, part of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, to support over 50s in Wythenshawe through music phone calls and exploring ways to connect in the community in the future. Find out more about Buzz in the link below.

In December 2020, our crowdfunder raised an incredible £2000 for String of Hearts activities thanks to generous donations from individuals. We are so grateful for the support, which will enable String of Hearts to reach more older adults through music-making, both online and over the phone, whilst Covid-19 restrictions continue.

Check out String of Hearts' very own radio show curated by group members for Wythenshawe FM 'The Buzz'! Group members shared their favourite pieces of music, musical memories and messages of hope and joy ahead of christmas. Plus a special performance by one group member of their own song. Huge thanks to Wythenshawe FM 'The Buzz' for this opportunity! Click on the link below to listen to the show.

In November, String of Hearts and Trafford Libraries invited Trafford residents to take part in a workshop exploring music, poetry and storytelling, with a professional musician.

Participants took inspiration from famous texts to create a new piece of music together on zoom with a professional musician. The workshop was part of Trafford Libraries' Winter Festival.

In October we launched the Music Hotline: a free, friendly phone call service where local people who don't use the internet can connect with a professional musician through the phone. Over 50s are being referred to the hotline via GP surgeries and other local organisations. Click on the link below to find out more or make a referral.

Trafford residents get creative online during lockdown with String of Hearts

Read more about our activities over the last few months and our upcoming plans to share group members' musical creations with others in the community.

In July we distributed Creative Care Kits to older adults living in Trafford. The kits are packed full of activities created by Greater Manchester arts organisations to support people's creativity and wellbeing during this difficult time. They contain 40 pages of activities including music, poetry and drawing, with equipment provided too! The kits were produced by GM Combined Authority and given out to 16,000 older adults in total.

Read more about our experiences of establishing a creative ageing organisation to tackle isolation for over 50s across the UK and in our local town of Sale, Trafford. Plus find out more about the fantastic work of BSG Creative Ageing special interest group.