A music programme has been launched in Pontardawe and Briton Ferry to pair professional musicians with parents and babies, to help families build better bonds and support those dealing with perinatal mental health issues.
Over seven weeks, the Lullaby Project will give caregivers and their babies the chance to take part in a unique bonding experience that will see them work with professional musicians to create their own unique lullaby.
Originally created by Carnegie Hall in New York, the Project is designed to support caregivers who have been identified by Flying Start and Health Visitor teams as being at risk of isolation or are experiencing issues such as post-natal depression.
During group sessions delivered in the community, caregivers are encouraged to talk and write about their own experiences and the hopes they have for their child’s future. Professional musicians will then work with each family to pull out key phrases to form lyrics and create the music for their song.
Following the seven workshops, families will be invited to a professional recording studio to sing and record their lullabies with the musicians. The songs will then be shared at a public celebratory concert for friends and family to enjoy.
According to experts working with the Welsh Government’s Talk With Me programme, which shares speech, language, and communication skills advice with parents and caregivers for children aged between 0-5, singing songs and rhymes is one of the best ways to help young ones develop confidence communicating.
Katie Jones is a Community Nursery Nurse working within the Neath Port Talbot Health Visitor team. Commenting on the success of the Project to date, Katie said: “We know there are a lot of parents and children who will benefit from taking part in these sessions. It’s particularly beneficial in cases where we see that a family is at risk of becoming isolated, or if we see that a child could be showing signs of delayed development, including speech and communications skills.
“We see real positive changes in confidence for parents and children taking part in these music sessions. It’s really rewarding to see the positive outcomes that result from simply singing with little ones and getting down on a face-to-face level.”
Delivered by Live Music Now Cymru, the Project has been made available to parents thanks to funding from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Flying Start Programme and follows the success of pilot programmes in Glynneath and Blaengwynfi that were also funded by the local authority.
Kirsten Miller, a lead musician for Lullaby Project sessions in Briton Ferry, said: “It’s very common for parents and children joining us to be shy at first and this was particularly true after lockdowns and periods of isolation. By the end of our sessions we see caregivers standing in front of the group to sing to their babies. Every song is based on the personality of the baby. Some are soft lullabies that are accompanied by the harp, others have been inspired by Oasis songs. When you see the babies enjoying the music and giving it their full attention, you know they are getting the most from a session.”
Kirsty Price from Cwmavon was one of the first parents to take part in Lullaby Project’s pilot sessions in Port Talbot. Commenting on her experience, Kirsty, said: “Lullaby Project has helped my daughter and I gain confidence together. I’ve had struggles with post-natal depression and anxiety, and like a lot of new parents after the pandemic I needed to something to get us out and interacting with people.
“I’ve loved seeing my daughter get excited around other people and enjoying the sessions. She just couldn’t wait to interact and communicate with the musicians. It even helped her to learn to walk. I’m so glad our health visitor suggested we take part.”
The successes seen in Neath Port Talbot are also inspiring other local authorities across Wales to follow suit. The Isle of Anglesey County Council have become the latest to commission Live Music Now Cymru to deliver two Lullaby Projects for local families.
