Northants charity receives cheque for £25,000 to help fund music therapy for disabled children

A Northants charity that provides music therapy for children who have a disability has received a £25,000 donation from Global, a national media and entertainment group
Heart Four Counties Breakfast Show presenters Stuart Miles and Katy Hill handed over a cheque for £25,000 to Thomas's FundHeart Four Counties Breakfast Show presenters Stuart Miles and Katy Hill handed over a cheque for £25,000 to Thomas's Fund
Heart Four Counties Breakfast Show presenters Stuart Miles and Katy Hill handed over a cheque for £25,000 to Thomas's Fund

Heart Four Counties Breakfast presenters Stuart Miles and Katy Hill surprised the organisers of Thomas’s Fund with a cheque for £25,505 as part of Global’s Make Some Noise campaign.

Grants are awarded to projects across the UK that help disadvantaged youngsters living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.

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Thomas’s Fund, set up in 2007 in memory of Thomas Smith who died aged 10 from a life-limiting neurodegenerative condition, provides music therapy in the home for children and young people living in Northamptonshire, who have a life limiting condition or disability which prevents them from attending school for prolonged periods.

The charity also works on the children’s wards at Northampton General and Kettering General hospitals

Esther Mitchell, lead music therapist for Thomas’s Fund, said the money will enable the charity to increase the work it does by one day a week for the next two years.

Ms Mitchell said the charity would take on a new therapist to work half a day in the community and half a day on the children’s ward at Kettering General Hospital (KGH).

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She said: “Generating links with KGH and ongoing work has been an aim for Thomas’s Fund for several years; this funding will enable us to carry out regular individual and group sessions on the wards, supporting individuals who are considered in need of additional emotional support whilst inpatient on Skylark Ward.

“This work follows a very successful initial evaluated pilot at the end of last year which showed children and young people, parents and staff members all feeling that the provision of music therapy was extremely beneficial, supporting individuals during a time of pain, isolation and heightened anxiety whilst away from home.”

Luc Smith, trustee at Thomas’s Fund said: “We are very grateful to Heart, Global and all their listeners for their generosity in supporting Thomas’s Fund and in helping us raise awareness for all of the work we’re doing. The extra funding that Global’s Make Some Noise has given will make a huge difference to our work.”

The Heart Four Counties’ Managing Editor, Mark Sadler said the radio station was incredibly proud that Global’s Make Some Noise is supporting Thomas’s Fund.

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He said: “We know it can be difficult for smaller charities and projects to reach donors, and we were moved by the work of the team at Thomas’s Fund and their stories. We are looking forward to continuing, with our listeners and partners, to raise even more money for even more projects across the UK that are struggling to raise awareness.”

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