Transforming experiences of healthcare and hospital for children and young people with complex needs

November News!

Reflection & Connection

Hello everyone and welcome to our November newsletter!

This month, we’ve dedicated focused time to reflection and evaluation with our wonderful musicians, who have been delivering ward and youth hub sessions over the past three months.
We held a development day with our Young Associates and facilitated two online debrief sessions with our musicians. Creating space for musicians to consolidate, reflect, refresh, and develop their skills is integral to our Youth Music project—and essential for both their wellbeing and professional growth.
Ros and Mark also attended the annual RMCH Candle Service. Read more below.

Ros, Mark and Juliet

Lead Musicians, Co-Founders and Co-Directors, Songbirds Music UK

Developing Reflective Practise 

This month, as part of our Youth Music programme Hospital of Music, we have given focused time to our musicians' development, scheduling online debrief sessions and a day of musical training for our Young Associates.

"The online debrief sessions are an important space for our musicians to come together and verbally reflect on their experiences away from the hospital environment. We can take time to unpick musical interaction processes, answer any questions or queries; we can talk through specific encounters and approaches, highlight aspects of good practice, and identify future training needs. Musicians also benefit hugely from sharing experiences in a safe space together, learning from their peers," says Ros.

Phoebe Cross, Programme Officer at Youth Music, joined us for one of the sessions. It was great to have her with us, and we are grateful to our musicians for being so open and accommodating to her joining our session. Phoebe commented:

"It was so lovely to join a reflective debrief session with the music practitioners from Songbirds. I heard about the sensitive way they go about their delivery in hospital settings, and it’s clear how much confidence the musicians have gained in their practice."

Our four Young Associates also reflected on the training day:

Tabitha:

“It was great to come together as Young Associates for a day of training… I’ve already been able to take the feedback and learning from that day, and implement it into my own professional practice, both as a mentor to new musicians and as a practitioner.”

Grace:

“It was a fantastic refresh of how sparse music can be whilst still being impactful and having meaning… It was encouraging to hear the staff affirm that what we do is valued and gives me encouragement to be bolder in my practice.”

Jodie:

“We discussed how we could develop simple tunes in ward and hospital settings to allow for interactions with patients and families… Playing repertoire we were comfortable with was important as it allowed flexibility with how we used the music to interact and follow patients’ musical ideas. This was a great start to the day as we then put into practice our learning on the wards in the afternoon ICU session.”

Bee:

During the training day, we worked on our collective musicianship, exploring the range of musical textures we could create together. We learned a variety of music facilitation activities and had the opportunity to practise playing as an ensemble. We also heard from members of the critical care medical team, who helped us understand how to approach and work sensitively in situations such as palliative care. It was a valuable opportunity to strengthen our musical partnerships and improve our ensemble cohesion.

It was incredibly valuable to come together, share feedback, and continue growing while also checking in on how our musicians are doing. The Young Associates then carried their learning straight into real hospital spaces—boosting confidence, staying flexible, and strengthening their connections with patients and families. The day was a powerful reminder of how training, reflection, and teamwork enrich both our musicians and the children and young people we work with.

Below: Young Associate musicians at RMCH

Songbirds support annual RMCH Candle Service 

From Eleanor Aston, Bereavement Manager, Family Support Services,

“The Candle Service is a cherished annual memorial gathering for families across Manchester whose children have passed away. Many families have been attending for years and see this time as a shared experience and a moment to remember and reflect.

This service offers a gentle space for remembrance, reflection, and togetherness. Families light candles to honour the children who have touched their lives in countless ways. Each flame represents a special memory, a precious moment, and a connection that endures in the heart.

Music from Songbirds is an integral part of the service, bringing a sense of peace and warmth, and filling the space outside the Multifaith Centre with compassion and comfort.”

On 22nd November, Ros and Mark provided music to support the RMCH Candle Service, contributing their time as part of Songbirds’ flagship Sound Environments Project in Paediatric Critical Care.

Two services are held at the Multifaith Chapel in MRI during the day. Ros and Mark play music—including repertoire specifically composed for hospital environments by Mark—as families arrive for the service. Afterwards, as coffee is being served, the musicians play again, this time setting out a few small percussion instruments for children to explore and play alongside them.

Below: The selection of percussion instruments set out for siblings to try

Mark says,

“It’s a very special event to be part of—so carefully put together, and it’s a privilege to be part of such a caring and compassionate team on the day.”

Ros says,

“Families whose children spent time in either PICU or PHDU will have met Songbirds musicians, and we hope that the music offered at the services provides a connection and comfort for them at such a challenging time. It’s lovely seeing siblings take part in music-making with us after the service, and we hope this activity helps make the emotional challenges of the day a little easier for them and their families.”

Sian, Matron of PCC, commented after the day:

“Your contribution was invaluable to the atmosphere on Saturday, and families really appreciated the music.”

Below: Staff from Paediatric Critical Care and the Bereavement Support teams share a moment for a photo with Ros and Mark at the end of the day.

New release: our Impact Document!

We’re excited to share that Songbirds Music UK has a brand-new Impact Document! It brings together who we are, what we care about, and everything we’ve been up to this year. Inside, you’ll find snapshots of our work, stories, testimonials, and case studies that show how our music sessions are making a real difference across healthcare and community settings.

Our work grows from Ros and Mark’s award-winning Songbirds project with children who have the most complex healthcare needs, many of whom spend long stretches in hospital from birth. In 2024, we delivered 66 Youth Music sessions, around 1,051 musical interactions, and 100 Sound Environments sessions in paediatric critical care. These sessions support children’s cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological systems and can be especially transformative for children who don’t communicate verbally.

The document explores how our work helps children, young people and families navigate the hospital experience—creating warm, interactive spaces filled with agency, connection, and moments of joy (even in the most clinical of rooms!). You’ll also see how music opens new pathways for communication, especially for children with tracheostomies or long-term ventilation who use their voices differently. Parents often share that our sessions help them feel closer to their child, giving them new ways to bond, play and express themselves together.

You’ll also find how our training programmes support student nurses, medical students, and RNCM musicians, giving them the tools and confidence to work creatively and compassionately in healthcare settings. Over the past year, we’ve delivered countless sessions across hospitals and the community—impact captured through meaningful outcomes, uplifting feedback, and some brilliant statistics.

As Dr Ros Hawley says:

“Our new impact document draws together information, case studies and testimonials from all members of our community and shares from numerous perspectives how our music making benefits children and young people affected by hospitalisation, disability or health inequity. We are hugely grateful to all those who have shared their experiences and reflections, to bring to life the value and impact of what we do.”

We hope this document gives you a warm, inspiring glimpse into the world of Songbirds — and the difference our sessions are making every day.

Below: Cover of our Impact Document

Thanks for reading!!

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