As we close out 2025 – and celebrate 30 years of working alongside people at the heart of care – we felt there was no better way than to revisit some of the memorable activities, projects and milestones that have defined our journey. From a single project in Romania to supporting Partners across a dozen countries worldwide, each step has shaped who we are today.

Every activity we deliver holds meaning, so narrowing it down to just five was no small task. But focusing on key milestones, we’ve curated a selection that captures pivotal moments in our growth and reflects the evolution of our organisation.

1. On-site skill-sharing, Camin Spital pentru Copii Irecuperabil (Romania) 1995

Our original pilot project, delivered over six weeks to staff working with Scottish European Aid at the Camin Spital pentru Copii Irecuperabil in the village of Ionaseni, near Botosani, in northern Romania. So much has changed in the intervening years, and we’re proud to have played our part in the development of music therapy in the country.

Today, our Distance Learning Programme – now led by a Romanian team – continues to equip caregivers who want to know more about music as an effective form of intervention for children with additional needs.

2. On-site skill-sharing: SOS Children’s Village (Palestine) 2009

Responding to request, this six-week training project in Palestine was the first we delivered outside Romania. Using the same approach that continues to serve us today, we partnered with a group with local knowledge and insight to work with staff who were interested to explore the scope of music to support the children and young people living in the SOS Children’s Village, Bethlehem.

While the recent escalation of violence has prevented us delivering any activities in recent years, we remain available to any of our Palestinian Partners who contact us for support – as two did in 2025.

3. Structured training: Interactive Music-Making (United Kingdom) 2010

The first delivery of our Interactive Music-Making (IMM) structured training, which equips early years practitioners with what they need to offer meaningful musical experiences to thousands of children every year. Devised and delivered in partnership with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust ( (and accredited at the time by the University of Greenwich) the course comprises a series of 12 weekly seminars, a practical assignment and a written assignment.

One of our most established training models, the continued presence of IMM in our training toolkit year on year speaks to its ongoing relevance and impact, as does the involvement of six associate organisations that now contribute to its delivery.

4. Conference Participation: World Congress of Music Therapy (Japan) 2017

We attended the 2017 World Congress of Music Therapy in Japan where our director, Alexia was presented with the World Federation of Music Therapy award ‘for major contributions to the promotion of music therapy in areas of the world where the profession is less established’, raising our profile and the potential of our skill-sharing approach to strengthen care in diverse contexts and cultures. Alexia accepted the award on behalf of the charity and all the music therapists who contributed to our efforts through their involvement with our Advisory Panel.

Currently comprising 24 music therapists (with a total of 50 having played a part over the last 30 years), the Advisory Panel’s diverse experiences and perspectives continue to hone our focus and strategic thinking.

5. Online training: Music Helps Pilot (India) 2021

The pilot phase of our dementia caregiver course Music Helps in India marked our first foray into digital training. This course was developed by music therapist and Advisory Panel member, Nina Cherla, in response to a project request from Pavithra Gangadharan, Founder of Kshetra Assisted Living to help make music an integral part of their dementia care provision. Following the success of its launch, the course was adapted and re-developed for a UK audience, launching on our new, dedicated training platform earlier this year.

Building on the success of Music Helps to date, our future plans involve strengthening the India version by re-developing it for our training platform, and extending the course to South Africa in partnership with Durban-based care provider, Tafta. However, we can’t take this forward without first securing the funding we need. Help us establish a Response Fund, so we don’t have to keep their staff – and the people they care for – waiting.