The Music for Dementia 2020 UK campaign has appointed radio presenter Lauren Laverne as its ambassador. (Lauren Laverne is the Breakfast Radio Presenter for BBC Radio 6 Music and the BBC Radio 4’s flagship show “Desert Island Discs”). The campaign aims to build the UK's first network of music and dementia programmes, with the goal of making music freely accessible to those living with dementia by 2020.

The initiative – which is also backed by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP – “aims to make music available to people living with dementia and their carers across the UK.”

Speaking about her new role, Laverne said: “I can’t imagine my life without music. We all instinctively know how important music is, and how beneficial it is for our wellbeing. It connects us to others, to our memories and boosts our mood. That’s why it’s a central part of every important human interaction – from socialising with friends to weddings, even funerals. But because music is everywhere, we sometimes take it for granted, and that’s a huge mistake.” 

She continued: “There is now a vast amount of scientific research exploring the enormous benefits music has for cognitive, physical and mental health. Music’s connection to memory is something we intuitively understand and celebrate every day on radio shows like mine, but we are failing to use this powerful tool in the fight against dementia. Music should be made available to everyone living with the syndrome.”

Lauren will bring her experience and insight from the music industry to her role with Music for Dementia 2020 - an initiative created and funded by The Utley Foundation. Alongside fellow Ambassadors, Beatie Wolfe and Paul Hardcastle, Lauren will help shape the campaign over the course of two years and increase awareness around how and why music can be used as an integral part of dementia care.

People with dementia and their families are being asked to sign up via the website to join the Music For Dementia 2020 taskforce to shape and inform the campaign. HERE