For the last six years we have run regular workshops for severely physically disadvantaged patients at the Centre for Enablement at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. The hospital management  identified our workshops as having real therapeutic benefit, and the patients apparently regard our work as the most rewarding and popular of the wide range of arts and crafts programmes on offer at the day centre.

Last year we extended our work to the geratology wards of John Radcliffe Hospital, and this year we will be offering similar workshops at the Fullbrook Centre of the Churchill Hospital, catering for older adults with mental health problems.

We are currently in discussion with Stoke Mandeville Hospital to develop a project at the Spinal Unit, for patients, visitors and staff.

This specialist work is very demanding, both physically and emotionally, requiring additional skills beyond the assumed high level of professional musical  expertise, and it is a tribute to our specially trained animateurs and players that they can produce such wonderful results with such apparent but deceptive ease.