Music for my Mind is hiring!

Job Title

Full-time or Part-time Clinical Research Assistant/ Associate – Dementia

Reports To

Chair/Chief Executive of Music for my Mind

Job Overview

Music for my Mind is a new and timely charity aiming to bring personalised music playlists to people living with dementia. Although people with dementia may not be able to communicate with or recognise loved ones, amazingly they may still be able to sing along to favourite music from their teenage years. There are estimated to be 850,000 families affected by dementia in Britain, 50 million worldwide.

To date, the charity has been operating on a volunteer basis with a committed and well-connected Trustee Board. The success of our crowdfunding campaign indicates the breadth of public empathy for dementia and we have recently received Research Ethics Committee approval to proceed with our study. We have raised sufficient funds to recruit a team member for one of our highest priority positions – to seek to provide robust evidence through clinical studies that personalised music enhances the quality of life and well-being of people living with dementia, their carers, and family and that favourite music can change lives.

About the role

This post holder will work with the Founding Chairman of the Board who lives in Hertfordshire, supported by a Project co-ordinator. The Trustees are committed to building the evidence base that listening to personalised music playlists enhances well-being and quality of life for families affected by dementia. The long-term goal is to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this intervention for dementia in a large clinical trial.

Working closely with the Chair, you will deliver the small scale clinical studies with dementia patients in selected care homes to monitor the emotional and physiological impact of personalised music. You will compile personalised music playlists for residents living with dementia, with the help of their family members or carers. You will then test delivery methods of the playlists to residents in an attempt to improve well-being, particularly during stressful situations/ times. You will be organising and leading focus group discussions and interviews with residents, carers, and loved ones. You’ll be further involved in the analysis of subsequent data, both quantitative and qualitative, and contribute to the dissemination of findings across the wider community.

You will have a strong, demonstrable background in qualitative research as a social scientist, occupational therapist or psychologist with a strong interest and experience in musical interventions, or as a music therapist or musicologist with experience of clinical research, ideally working with older people. You will have knowledge of the concepts of clinical research and Good Clinical Practice, and have excellent communication, relationship management, and organisational skills and meticulous documentation and record keeping abilities. You will have a passion for music and an excellent understanding of and empathy with the practical needs, concerns and health of people participating in research (ideally of people living with dementia) and their families and care givers.

Music for my Mind is an important new initiative and this position creates a fabulous opportunity for someone who wants to make a massive positive impact on many people’s lives.

Location

Having a valid driving license and access to a vehicle is essential as you will be required to travel between care homes in the Hertfordshire/ Bedfordshire/ Essex area.

Remuneration

Salary to be discussed – initially a 1 year fixed term contract. Probationary period of 3 months

Hours

We will consider full time (37.5 hours per week) or part time – to be worked flexibly as required.

To apply: please send your CV to our email – contactmfmm@gmail.com or apply through Indeed.com.

Redbourn Fun Run 2018’s generous contribution

Redbourn Fun Run supports Music for my Mind

Music for my Mind was delighted to be a part of the Redbourn Fun Run 2018 held on 20th May 2018, organised by a group of volunteer mums from the village. The event had a great turnout and support from enthusiastic and energetic families ready to participate in the fun. There was a great sense of close community coming from all of the 813 participants and the over 1000 spectators who attended.

The start line at the Redbourn Fun Run 2018

The RFR chose Music for my Mind as one of the charities to sponsor through the event and we had a great time manning our stall and talking to families about music and dementia and trying to discover their favourite music playlists! Our Founder, Keith McAdam also started the 3km race and presented the winners with their medals and prizes.

Founder Keith McAdam awarding the proud winners

As a result of the event, the organisers of the Redbourn Fun Run and their sponsors donated £1532.75 to our cause, for which we are very grateful. The money will be put towards our ongoing project of discovering people’s favourite playlists within an hour and finding the best, easiest to use way of delivering those playlists in a care home environment.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Medals awarded at Redbourn Fun Run 2018

All photos © Wendy Gill

Music for my Mind is expanding the team

*Update: this job opportunity is now expired

 

Head of Strategy and Development

12 months Fixed Term initially

£30,000-£35,000 depending on experience 

St Albans area, Hertfordshire

 

Music for my Mind is a new and timely charity aiming to bring personalised music playlists to people living with dementia. Although people with dementia may not be able to communicate or recognise loved-ones, amazingly, they may still be able to sing along to favourite music from their teenage years. There are estimated to be 850,000 families affected by dementia in Britain, 50 million worldwide.

To date the charity has been operating on a volunteer basis with a committed and well-connected Trustee Board.   The current crowdfunding campaign indicates the breadth of public empathy for dementia. We have raised sufficient funds to recruit for our highest priority position – to lead on strategic development and fundraising for the charity.

 

About the role:

This post will work with the Founding Chairman of the Board, who lives in Hertfordshire, supported by a part-time Project assistant.  The Trustees are committed to building the evidence base that listening to personalised music playlists enhances well-being and quality of life for families affected by dementia. The long-term goal is to test the efficacy and cost effectiveness of this intervention for dementia in a large clinical trial.

Working closely with the Chair and board of trustees, you will provide and deliver the long-term strategic plan and budget to develop the Music for My Mind Charity. You will drive fundraising opportunities, including making grant applications, and manage donors to ensure a sustainable income to deliver the long term strategic plan.

You will work closely with Playlist for Life, Edinburgh University, and other like-minded organisations to deliver the goal of making personalised music available to everyone living with dementia.

Ideally you will have a proven track record of strategic planning and delivery, and of securing funding in a tough and complex financial climate in a senior management or strategy development role in the charity or university sector. You will have extensive experience in financial management and budget development, be a confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and relationship management abilities.

Music for my Mind is an important new initiative and this position creates a fabulous opportunity for someone who can make a massive impact on many people’s lives.

You can read the full Job Description below. To apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter to contactmfmm@gmail.com.

Closing date: July 1st 2018

View Job on Charity Jobs: https://bit.ly/2sw9zuY

Job Title

Head of Strategy and Development – Music for my Mind Charity

Reports To

The Head of Strategy and Development will report to the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Music for my Mind

Job Overview

Working closely with the Chair and board of trustees, provide and deliver the long-term strategic plan and budget to develop the Music for My Mind Charity. Ensure appropriate standards are in place and compliance with the law and regulations.

Drive fundraising opportunities, including making grant applications, and manage donors to ensure a sustainable income to deliver the long term strategic plan

Work closely with Playlist for Life, Edinburgh University and other like-minded organisations to deliver the goal of making personalized music available to everyone living with dementia

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Provide the long term strategic plan and budget to develop Music for My Mind within the direction set by the Chair and Board of Trustees and gain Board approval
  • Develop and secure fundraising opportunities to ensure a sustainable income to further the charity’s goals
  • Prepare the annual plan and annual budget for approval by the board of trustees and drive delivery of the fundraising plan and agreed financial targets
  • Responsible for the financial health of Music for My Mind, management of the budget and finances
  • Act as an ambassador with external stakeholders in order to advance the charity’s aims
  • Responsible for management of marketing, communication and charity administration
  • Regular attendance at Board meetings and supply regular reports to Music for My Mind trustees and to other collaborators
  • Ensure the organization has the right management systems and structures in place to carry out its work effectively, safely, and professionally and to fulfil its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities
  • Take appropriate steps to manage risks that could significantly impact Music for My Mind

Qualifications and Experience

  • Degree or equivalent

Competencies

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the aims and ethos of Music for My Mind
  • A proven track record of long term strategic planning and delivery in a senior management or Strategy Development role in a charity or university
  • A proven track record of securing funding for a charity or university in a tough and complex financial climate – including experience of making grant applications
  • Excellent experience in financial management and budget development skills
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Ability to communicate the strategic plan
  • Excellent all-round communication skills and relationship-management abilities
  • Personal drive and a positive, optimistic outlook, energy, integrity, creativity and imagination, adaptability and responsibility
  • An understanding of key health and dementia issues
  • An understanding of marketing and PR
  • An understanding of the voluntary and community sector in the UK and the issues it faces
  • A working understanding of digital media platforms

Location

  • Working from home, based in the south east with easy access to Redbourn and the St Albans area. Frequent travel required to Redbourn and other parts of Hertfordshire and London
  • Occasional travel in the UK

 

Remuneration

Salary range £30-35k in the first instance – initially a 12 months fixed term contract

Hours

37.5 hours a week – can be worked flexibly from home. In practice may be longer as individual expected to attend networking and campaign events outside office hours

Redbourn Fun Run in support of Music for my Mind

Redbourn Fun Run in support for Music for my Mind

The Redbourn Fun Run was launched in a special assembly at Redbourn Junior and Infant Schools and will be in support of Music for my Mind.

Our founder, Keith McAdam, visited the schools to speak to the pupils about the power of music. The annual Redbourn Fun Run will be on 20th May 2018 at the Redbourn Leisure Centre and will raise funds for Music for my Mind. There will be 1 km, 3km and 5km races, plus a relay race with teams of 4. All participants will receive a Fun Run medal and winners will receive a trophy. The first 100 children to sign up will receive a free t-shirt. There will be activities and stalls offered all day to keep the family entertained.

Keith McAdam awarding the winners of the competition to design the Redbourn Fun Run tambourines

Keith also congratulated the two pupils, Matilda Bennett and Poppy Bullen, who won the competition to design tambourines to be shaken by the supporters and to encourage the runners.

To read more and enter the Fun Run, visit their website: http://redbournfunrun.co.uk/

To read how the event went and see photos, read this article.

Music for my Mind Charity of the Year for The Last of The Summer Ukuleles

Last of the Summer Ukuleles support Music for my Mind

This week the team at Music for my Mind visited a music session by The Last of The Summer Ukuleles at The Red Lion pub in Studham. They have chosen us as their charity of the year and presented our Project Assistant, Dimana Georgieva, with the first donation for the year.

The Last of the Summer Ukuleles are a group of volunteers who have gathered together to entertain people and explore their passion for the ukulele. They come from all around Hertfordshire and visit care homes, day centres and clubs, where they play everything from Formby to Cash to Oasis and The Zootons and other material from the 50s and 60s. All their proceeds go to worthy causes and this year they have generously chosen Music for my Mind.

You can read more about the group on their website, where you can see their upcoming gigs and how to book them for your own venue: http://thesummerukuleles.blogspot.co.uk/.

We’d also like to thank the team at The Red Lion in Studham, who are the hosts for the monthly meetings of the group and who provide a great service and atmosphere. If you’d like to book the venue, you can contact them here: http://www.redlion-studham.co.uk/home.

If your company or organisation would like to choose Music for my Mind as their charity of the year, don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Playlist for Life

Playlist for Life and Music for my Mind

In October 2017, we were delighted to host Sally Magnusson and Sarah Metcalfe, of Playlist of Life, at our private event – the first phase of launching Music for my Mind.

Playlist for Life is a charity that we feel closely related to. They have also witnessed the positive effects of a personally meaningful playlist for people living with dementia. It can enhance memories and interaction, improve relationships with family and overall better their quality of life. For the past year we have been in discussions on the most efficient way to help everyone living with dementia through the use of personalised music together. We are excited about the possibilities and our future projects.

You can read their article on the connection between the two charities here: https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/music-for-my-mind