Xiaohongshu
Join us for our exploring the impact of music-based dementia programmes project
The Research Volunteering programme through the Community Research Initiative gives YOU the power to take your research and classroom skills out into the community to create a positive social impact. Through our bite size projects, you’ll work with a group of interdisciplinary peers and organisational allies to tackle a project that will draw on your research skills. These projects are flexible and designed with students in mind to give you amazing experience to fuel your CV, explore new skills, and meet other likeminded students. Each opportunity is unique, make sure to check out our page for more information.
A bit about the project
This project gives you the chance to support a charity that provides care for older people by helping them evaluate the impact of their music‑based dementia programmes. You’ll work closely with musical therapists, carers, and participants to understand how singing and music sessions support memory, wellbeing, and connection. Your research will help the organisation refine its new impact model, strengthen future funding bids, and expand these uplifting programmes across all their dementia services.
- What can I expect from this opportunity?
- Get hands‑on experience collecting real‑world data in dementia‑friendly music sessions.
- Help design simple, sensitive surveys and interview schedules for carers and participants.
- Observe sessions alongside a qualified music therapist to understand how the programme works in practice.
- Contribute to an impact report used for marketing, fundraising, and programme development.
- Learn how research directly shapes decision‑making in a care organisation.
- Gain experience working with older adults, carers, and specialist practitioners.
- How will my work on this project impact the community?
- Provide evidence that helps secure funding to keep dementia‑friendly music programmes running.
- Support the expansion of the “Singing for Memory” model across more services.
- Highlight the emotional, cognitive, and social benefits of music for people with dementia.
- Give carers a voice in shaping future support.
- Help the organisation demonstrate its value to donors, families, and the wider Jewish community.
What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for?
- Develop and Refine Evaluation Tools
- Help design short, accessible surveys for carers.
- Adapt simple before‑and‑after interview questions for participants with dementia.
- Ensure tools are sensitive, ethical, and dementia‑friendly.
- Observe Music Sessions in Action
- Attend sessions led by a trained music therapist.
- Create an observation framework to capture engagement, mood, interaction, and wellbeing indicators.
- Record observations in a structured, consistent way.
- Collect Feedback from Carers and Participants
- Support carers in completing surveys about their experiences and observations.
- Gather simple, participant‑friendly responses before and after sessions.
- Ensure all data is collected respectfully and ethically.
- Analyse Findings and Produce an Impact Summary
- Review survey responses and observation notes to identify key themes.
- Compare outcomes against the organisation’s desired impact areas.
- Create a clear, engaging report that can be shared with funders, donors, and families.
What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?
- Research design, including survey creation and observational methods.
- Qualitative and quantitative data analysis using real programme data.
- Ethical research practice, especially when working with people with dementia.
- Communication skills, engaging with carers, staff, and participants.
- Report writing, producing summaries for funders and marketing use.
- Understanding of dementia care, music therapy, and community‑based wellbeing programmes.
- Professional confidence, working alongside therapists and programme leads.
Time commitment
For this project we anticipate 2-3 months of work. Training requirements are 2 hours of training. During data collection weekly sessions are 2 hours long and the commitment will reach up to 4 hours a week. During write up and creation of materials more flexible.