Aberdeen FC Community Trust is delighted to have teamed up with SHMU, Football Memories Scotland and Alzheimer’s Scotland to launch the brand-new programme Music Memories.

Starting this Friday, Music Memories, sponsored by Walkers Shortbread, will take place fortnightly.

Every second week between 10am-11.30am participants will be welcomed into the Players’ Lounge to enjoy dementia friendly sessions aimed at increasing positive mental health and wellbeing.

Music Memories is a dementia friendly programme based around reminiscence and will focus around making ‘new memories’ as well as reminiscing and helping people living with dementia to feel and live better.

The focus of the programme is to empower people living with dementia to engage through participation and enjoyment of specially tailored music.

Music evokes strong emotions which forms memories and also brings back memories when listening to music from throughout the years, helping people to reconnect with their most powerful memories.

Debra Christie, Health and Wellbeing team lead commented, “Music can help people cope with challenges in their life which could include social isolation, loneliness, and loss. We have a fantastic group of partners who are joining together to offer our new programme, Music Memories. Music can help us recover from trauma and negative experiences, let’s harness the power of music!”

Dave Ironside, SHMU Presenter commented, “Music is a medium that can cross generations and actually lift barriers. As a presenter at shmu there is nothing more satisfying than getting asked to play a tune that evokes particular memories for that person. Certain songs can bring you right back to a specific moment in time, that is the magic of music. The sessions will be tailored to the individual and will promote positive mindset and most if all….it will be fun!”

Alan Johnstone, Volunteer for Alzheimer Scotland and Football Memories Scotland Area Coordinator commented, “Music in all its formats is a powerful element of reminiscence therapy. Memories of attending pop or classical concerts, seeing local bands play in a pub setting, singing football chants on the terracing, musicals at the theatre, recording the top twenty on tape from the radio, listening to records on your home music centre – all these can trigger personal stories and conversation. The Music Memories programme will complement and enhance the other health and wellbeing activities of AFCCT and their partners so please come along, share your memories and maybe give us a song!”

To sign up please contact Nicola.graham@afcct.org.