St Luke’s patients and families are set to benefit from a brand new 18‑week ukulele programme, thanks to continued support from the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Fund.
The fund backed St Luke’s for the first-time last year, supporting a 12‑week singing project at our Ecclesall Road South Patient and Family Support Services. This fantastic project resulted in the St Luke’s Singing Group composing their own song reflecting what the support of St Luke’s means to them.
Building on that success, this year’s grant for £2,000 will fund an extended 18‑week ukulele group, which launched in January at the same site.
The ukulele group will support patients and their families who attend Patient and Family Support services every week, including people living with cancer, COPD, MND, Parkinson’s and other palliative conditions. As well as being enjoyable and accessible, ukulele playing offers a range of physical and emotional benefits.
Music-making offers a powerful outlet for self‑expression, and for many participants, it can help to reduce anxiety and low mood, foster relaxation and even lessen the perception of pain.
For people living with Parkinson’s, the rhythm and movement involved in playing can stimulate the areas of the brain linked with coordination and motivation. While focusing on breath and posture while playing supports-controlled breathing, which is particularly valuable for patients with MND, COPD and other respiratory conditions.
Above all, the group will nurture a strong sense of belonging, shared joy and emotional resilience at a time when patients and families need it most.
The new sessions will become a key part of St Luke’s wider Musical Journeys programme, with players having the chance to rehearse and perform alongside participants from the existing singing groups, and family members warmly invited to join in.
The programme will culminate in a relaxed spring performance, giving participants the chance to celebrate their musical progress and the friendships and sense of community that have grown throughout the 18 weeks.
St Luke’s Activities Manager, Jill Aeppli, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how powerful music can be in helping people feel more like themselves again. Making music together can help to tackle loneliness, and build connection through shared learning, creativity and a sense of achievement.”
“Thanks to the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Fund, we can now offer an 18‑week ukulele programme that doesn’t just bring people together to learn an instrument – it supports their movement, confidence and overall sense of wellbeing.”
Julie Voisey, Chair of Trustees at the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Fund, said: “It means so much to be able to stand alongside St Luke’s again as they use music to bring comfort, connection and joy to patients and families across Sheffield.”
“It is wonderful to see how this new 18‑week programme will build on the musical journeys already begun, and we’re really excited to see how the ukulele group continues to flourish.”