MUSIC Cafes across Greater Manchester are helping dementia patients reconnect with themselves, with others and find moments of joy the condition can so often obscure.
At the heart of this movement is Music in Mind, an evidence-based programme developed by the Manchester Camerata in partnership with the University of Manchester and Mind.
Currently 21 sites operate across the 10 boroughs that make up the region, with one such weekly session taking place in Stalybridge, at St Andrew’s Medical Centre on Waterloo Road.
Designed specifically for people with dementia and carers, they create welcoming, informal environments where participants can engage with instruments in a way that feels natural and expressive.
The atmosphere each week is lively, inclusive, and often unexpectedly moving.
For Mukesh Dhimar, a Music in Mind co-ordinator who runs four cafes, the impact is immediate and deeply felt.
He said: “You can almost sense some magic.
“It’s such an amazing, incredible thing you can almost sense some magic when you’re in the groups. People with dementia are just having a great time.
“They might not like it at first, it might be a bit too noisy, but when they keep coming back, you can see the changes.
“It’s just incredible to be part of.”
Mukesh’s journey began as a volunteer Music Champion trained by Manchester Camerata musicians. Now he leads sessions in Ashton, Stalybridge, Oldham and Royton.
He described how music reaches people in ways that conversation often cannot, adding: “People with dementia can always remember songs more than names.
“When they’re participating with percussion instruments, it gets their brain ticking. You see them concentrate, listen and connect with others again.”
For Jill Taylor, partnerships manager at Manchester Camerata, the philosophy behind the cafés is simple but profound.
@ggc_media Music cafés are helping people with dementia reconnect, express themselves, and find joy again through rhythm, song, and shared moments. Mukesh is the Music in Mind Coordinator which leads weekly sessions here at St Andrews House Medical Centre, Stalybridge. Music in Mind is a three-year evidence-based programme developed by the Manchester Camerata in partnership with the University of Manchester and Mind. Funded by the NHS, Arts Council England, the Utley Foundation, and the National Academy for Social Prescribing. You can find your local Music in Mind event at: https://www.musicinmind.org/musicsessions/schedule/p5. #MusicInMind #DementiaSupport #PowerOfMusic #CommunityCare
Participants actively shape each session. They choose instruments, set rhythms, and sometimes even lead the group. This sense of ownership is key to the programme’s success.
“The music cafés are about the person with dementia making the music,” she said.
“We have a big box of instruments. They choose their own, they’re given the authority to communicate through music and that’s where the real special stuff happens.
“You get to see the impact in real time. People light up and come back into the room. For me, it’s a real joy.
“I feel privileged to be part of it.”
Music In Mind is not just anecdotal, it is grounded in more than a decade of research. The current expansion, including cafes launched in Oldham and Tameside in 2024, forms part of a three-year programme funded by the NHS, Arts Council England, the Utley Foundation, and the National Academy for Social Prescribing.
Music In Mind continues to grow, offering a powerful reminder that even in the face of dementia, connection is still possible.
Sometimes all it takes is a rhythm, a melody and a shared moment.
You can find your local Music in Mind event by clicking: https://www.musicinmind.org/music-sessions/schedule/p5.