NAPA (National Activity Providers Association) is a long term partner of Live Music Now and their annual awards celebrate the work and achievements of activity providers. Held on Friday 6th October at the Museum of Brands in London’s Notting Hill, there was a real air of excitement for the event being held in person for the first time in four years.
For this year’s awards, Live Music Now’s Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health, Douglas Noble was involved in judging the ‘Connected Communities’ Award, along with Alison Teader from Arts in Care Homes. Live Music Now musicians Borges Machado also performed at the event, providing music for mingling guests and at the start of the ceremony.
The awards encompassed a range of achievements, from celebrating exceptional leadership, recognizing work on inclusion and diversity and a Lifetime Achievement award. The Grow Old Disgracefully Award, won by care home resident Joy Allen celebrated NAPA’s commitment to supporting positive ageing. After a throwaway comment was overheard by her care home’s activity provider, centenarian Joy’s wish to ride a motorbike was realized! Ceremony attendees enjoyed watching a video of Joy’s motorbike ride, accompanied by a procession of bikers, and hearing from Joy and her family about how memorable the experience had been.
Among the winners was Shona Bradbury, Manager of Appleby House Care UK, nominated in the Arts in Care Homes category. Musicians from Live Music Now led an 11-week residency at Appleby House in Spring/ Summer 2022.
A year later, music at Appleby House is still going strong with choir practice four times a week and residents generally more communicative and engaged.
“Our choir is still going strong and we still use the techniques we were taught, best thing we ever did was working with Live Music Now. Thank you!” Shona Bradbury , Manager at Appleby House
Congratulations to Shona and her team at Appleby House on the recognition of all your continuing hard work, and to all the winners and nominees. And thank you to everyone at NAPA for the ceremony and all your work throughout the year.
