Dean Waterfield Lodge No. 8089, based in Hereford, recently donated £1,000 to the Orchestra of the Swan, a leading chamber orchestra based in the Midlands. The donation will go towards the weekly Café Muse sessions, which are a fun and friendly place where participants with mild to moderate dementia, and their family members are supported to live independently within Herefordshire. Each session is themed, with participants invited to explore musical instruments, rediscover musical skills, sing along, dance, share their memories, discuss current affairs, and most importantly, enjoy a free group lunch!

 The Orchestra run two cafés in the region, in Hereford and Warwick. The weekly Café Muse session in Hereford is aimed specifically for Armed Forces Veterans and their families in Herefordshire and takes place at the Nell Gwynne Studio at The Courtyard, Hereford. The team in Hereford includes two specialist facilitators, a Registered Mental Health Nurse working with Veterans, and a SSAFA caseworker. The Orchestra are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and have achieved Bronze Employment Recognition Scheme status, the first orchestra in the UK to do so.

“A huge thank you to Dean Waterfield Lodge No. 8089 for their generous donation towards Café Muse Hereford.
 The donation was presented by Stuart Powell following the completion of his year as Worshipful Master of the Lodge. Support like this makes a real difference, helping us reach more people through the power of music.
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our work.”

Claire Atteck, Head of Operations and Finance at the Orchestra of the Swan