The magic of our volunteers
The Magic of Lost Chord UK Volunteers: Compassion, Connection, and Community
At Lost Chord UK, our volunteers, act as Music Buddies and are the heart and soul of our interactive music sessions. Their work goes way beyond general helpers; they are facilitators of joy, connection, and belonging. Their role is to ensure that every person, no matter their condition, is heard, included, and given the opportunity to engage in a way that is meaningful to them. While supporting the primary carer to provide emotional support.
Exceptional People from All Walks of Life
Lost Chord UK volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, but they all share a deep commitment to making a difference through music. Whether they are students, retired professionals, or musicians themselves, they have been carefully chosen for their ability to connect with and engage people with dementia and other neurological conditions and their carers. What makes them special is their ability to:
- Read the room – They are trained to quickly assess who needs support, encouragement, or simply a listening ear.
- Hone in on individuals – Whether in a care home, community setting, or live event, they instinctively find those who may be struggling the most and gently bring them into the moment.
- Act as a bridge – They connect people with dementia to their caregivers, families, and the wider community, ensuring that everyone is supported and no one is left feeling isolated.
The Power of Listening and Engagement
What sets Lost Chord UK volunteers apart is their exceptional listening skills. They don’t just hear they actively listen and use music as a tool to help people connect and express themselves. They:
- Encourage conversation and reminiscence – Helping people recall memories through music and storytelling.
- Support song choices – Using songbooks, musical requests, and memory prompts to give individuals a voice in shaping their own experience.
- Encourage movement and participation – Whether through singing, dancing, or playing handheld instruments (like tambourines, shakers, drums and scarfs), they ensure everyone feels included and valued.
Creating Safe, Joyful Spaces
Lost Chord UK sessions are designed to be uplifting, non-clinical, and person-centred. Volunteers play a crucial role in setting the atmosphere, making sure sessions are:
- Safe spaces for self-expression – People with dementia can be vulnerable, but our volunteers provide a judgment-free environment where people can be themselves.
- Filled with joy and laughter – Their warmth and enthusiasm bring moments of happiness and peace, even in the most challenging circumstances.
- A place of shared experience – Volunteers facilitate meaningful connections between the people we support and their carers and the wider groups, reconnecting people and breaking down barriers of isolation.
- Up close and personal – volunteers work closely with the people during sessions, holding their hands, dancing with them, listening to their news, their stories and sharing in their challenges. Music acts as a universal language to support and unite families and over time, together volunteers create strong human and emotional bonds that strengthens and sustains families and the communities they live in.
Bringing Out the Best in Every Person
Our volunteers don’t just assist, they empower. They encourage people to shine, participate, and rediscover confidence in themselves. They:
- Support carers and professionals – Providing them with tools and encouragement to continue using music as a connection point outside of sessions.
- Create moments of recognition – Helping loved ones witness glimpses of the person they once knew, even if just for a moment.
- Support Lost Chord UK’s professional musicians – Fielding two way connections in the room, maximising the benefits of every session.
- Strengthen community ties – Making sure that individuals feel part of something bigger, no matter their stage of dementia.
The Impact of a Lost Chord UK Volunteer
A Lost Chord UK session is more than just a performance, it’s a shared experience of emotion, memory, and connection. Thanks to our volunteers, every session becomes a transformative experience, where people with dementia are not just passive listeners, but active participants in their own story. Our volunteers focus on creating uplifting transformative experiences, adapting to every opportunity to change lives, whether behind the scenes preparing and sharing refreshments, or in front of house welcoming people, or acting as a group or personal music buddy during care and community interactive sessions alongside our musicians.
That is the magic of Lost Chord UK volunteers. Day in and day out they are out in the community and in care supporting people when it matters most.
They are not just there to help.
They are special people who are there to make a difference.
