Over the past two years, ten organisations across the UK, funded by the DCMS Tampon Tax Fund and Spirit of 2012, have been delivering music projects with female carers to understand what works in using music to increase wellbeing and tackle loneliness for this often-overlooked group.

The summit, chaired by Spirit of 2012 and Carers UK, will focus on the evaluation of the fund. Keynote speakers include Baroness Diana Barran and Lord Gus O'Donnell.

In conversation with fund evaluators Apteligen, learning partners Works Centre for Wellbeing, project managers and participants, we will share practical guidance on how to design and implement music programmes which improve wellbeing and reduce loneliness for unpaid female carers. We will also share insights on how to reach unpaid carers, engage them, and keep them engaged.

Agenda:

13:00 Introduction: Jane Lady Gibson (Chair of Spirit of 2012) and Helen Walker (CEO of Carers UK), including message from Baroness Diana Barran
13:15 Impact and learnings: Presentation of the evaluation of the Carers' Music Fund by Ruth Hollis (Chief Exec, Spirit of 2012) and Nancy Hey (Exec Director, What Works Centre for Wellbeing. Includes discussion on the impact of the fund and key learnings for funders, practitioners and policy-makers
14:00 Keynote speeches: Lord Gus O'Donnell and Simon Baynes MP
14:30 Panel Q&A: Representatives from Spirit of 2012, Apteligen and What Works Centre for Wellbeing answer your questions
14:45 Break
15:00 Project showcase 1: Tàlaidhean and MyMusic
15:15 How do we reach carers and keep their interest? Michael Shann (Carers UK) and Imogen Pursch (UK Youth) discuss the barriers carers may face to accessing participatory activities and share good practice in making participatory activities accessible to carers.
15:45 Break
16:00 Project showcase 2: Monster Extraction and Women's Work
16:15 Making music online: Talk and demonstration from Jack Drum Arts on how they delivered participatory music activities online during lockdown
16:35 Close and what next

To learn more about the Carers' Music Fund and the projects and organisations involved, visit our webpage, read insights from the first cohort or listen to What Works Centre for Wellbeing's 25-minute podcast "Singing Hurries Along Friendship".

Carers' Music Fund summit