Clearing the decks

Oh dear; my blog seems to have gone for a Burton these days! I’ve just not been finding the time recently to sit down and write. Having said that, I have been sitting down plenty – and in front of the computer – but much of that time’s been taken up with completing the final assignment for my counselling certificate course, preparing for an interview at Strathclyde Uni next Monday (eek!), preparing the presentation I’ve to give on the last day of my course next Tuesday, getting the ball rolling with fundraising for my placement at Strathcarron and keeping on top of work work. (With, of course, the odd peek at Facebook in between!) The housework’s also gone for a Burton – but I’m not so bothered about that!

I don’t officially start my placement until the beginning of March, but I’m making a start by doing a wee fundraiser so that I can purchase some of the bits and bobs that I need to help bring my project to life. I decided to keep the fundraiser simple while giving it a ‘music’ theme, so I made up a music quiz sheet (if you fancy a shot, check out my Just Giving page!) and I’ve been using Facebook, Twitter, my email contact list, my voice – ocht, basically any method I can think of to punt the idea to as many people as possible! (I’m even using my wee blog...) I’m coming to realise some of the real benefits of social networking; I know it has many drawbacks, but for raising awareness and spreading the word, I think it’s great. I’m attending the ‘World of Difference Winner’s Launch Day’ down in London at the end of this month and I couldn’t help smiling when I read that one of the talks will be on ‘effective blogging’! We’re encouraged to use blogging as a means of raising awareness of our projects and to give a bit of publicity to our chosen charities. I like to think I’m just a wee bit ahead...

So, what am I actually going to be doing at Strathcarron? Well, I’ll be spending a lot of time talking and - more importantly - listening to patients and staff to discover how best music can be utilised to benefit both the inpatients and day care patients. Then I’ll be trying to facilitate some of those suggestions. It could be something as simple as setting up regular visits from local musicians and singers, organising a fundraising concert, installing a system for music to be piped to the bathrooms or treatment rooms, or researching the different forms of professional music therapy available and sourcing long-term funding. I’ll not manage to do all of that in my four month part time placement – but I’ll be doing my best to put every minute available to me and every penny I raise to the best possible use!

Something that I will be able to do straight away is provide MP3 players and accessories, thanks to the generosity of the people who’ve already bought a quiz sheet or made a donation! The idea is that I’ll spend some time with the patient chatting about music that’s meaningful to them so that I can make up personal playlists of their ‘special songs’ to download onto an MP3 player. The patient will have their own collection of special music and songs to listen to on their ‘own’ MP3 player at anytime and anywhere in the hospice – be it in bed, in the bath (with the appropriate equipment – more funds will be required!) or walking in the lovely grounds. If the patient has given prior permission, I’ll make up a wee CD of the playlist as a special keepsake for the family.

I was delighted when the hospice staff (who I presented all my placement ideas to) were most taken with the personal playlist suggestion and that that was the thing they were most keen to see put in place. I can’t wait to get started and the first of March can’t come quick enough. In the meantime, there's a bit of deck-clearing to do with the small matter of an interview, course presentation and manky house to sort out....