Santander donation brings music to Hannahs

Hannahs recently received a very generous donation of £4,999 from Santander. Elaine Bleazard, Branch Director at Santander’s Plymouth Branch, presented the cheque to Hannahs Corporate Fundraiser, Claire Landricombe, and Andrew Green from Hannahwood. The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation, which offers Discovery Grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities.

This grant will fund a range of musical equipment allowing the young people at Hannahs with profound physical disabilities and limited movement to take part in music therapy sessions and create music. Music provides an important outlet for self-expression and social interaction and the opportunity to develop their creativity and refine their motor skills. It will benefit 39 of the young adults with physical disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy, autism and acquired brain injuries will benefit from the musical equipment.

Music therapy sessions will be delivered in groups to those with restricted movement allowing them to take part and experience the life changing benefits of music. The project will enable the young people to access music based activities that enhance feelings of self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem to assist them in reaching their fullest potential and improve their quality of life. Hannahs also aims to connect with the local community through music to challenge society assumptions and beliefs about disabilities. 

Hannahs Corporate Fundraiser, Claire Landricombe, said “We are delighted to be recipients of the Santander Discovery Grant this year and are very grateful for the continued support that we receive from our friends at Santander. We are absolutely thrilled to benefit from such a generous amount which can now be used to transform our music therapy at the Dame Hannah Rogers Charity. It was fantastic to be able to show Branch Director, Elaine Bleazard, around Hannahs Ivybridge recently and introduce her to some of our young adults who demonstrated their music mixing ability using some of the new equipment. We want to make sure that every child and young adult that we care for and support has the best opportunities available to develop and, importantly, have fun! This equipment will enable us to continue to provide fantastic activities for all of the amazing people at Hannahs. The joy and happiness that music brings to our young people is just immense. "

Elaine Bleazard, Branch Director at Santander’s Plymouth Branch, said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. We are committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting the Dame Hannah Trust, and hope the donation makes a real difference”.