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History of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy In Scotland

The presence of music therapy in Scotland began as early as 1973, with Julienne Cartwright working with adults in East Lothian. Through the 80’s and early 90’s this work continued to develop as more music therapists worked in Scotland. In 1995, a Nordoff-Robbins unit was realised with the inauguration of a community-based service from an office at St Joseph’s Hospital, Rosewell, in Midlothian. In December 1996, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy In Scotland was established as an independent registered charity in Scotland

Since its beginning, the charity has expanded rapidly as the demand for music therapy has grown in Scotland. In 1998, the charity opened a new base in Dunfermline, which was a pre-fabricated building on the site of Headwell School, Dunfermline. Also in 1998, the main office moved a short distance from the St Joseph’s Hospital to the Community Building in Loanhead, Midlothian. In 2001, the charity opened another base of operation at Cartvale School in Govan Glasgow. The work from this base also extended to outreach work at schools in Stirling.

In 2002, after extensive work by the charity, the first music therapy training course in Scotland started under the Nordoff-Robbins name based a Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh. In 2005, the training course converted to a two-year Master’s degree and moved to Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh (now Queen Margaret University, based in Musselburgh). The charity currently employs 7 graduates from the course.

The three bases of operation all moved in 2007. In January, the Glasgow base moved to the Pearce Institute in Govan. In March, the main office moved from Loanhead to Poltonhall Industrial Estate in Lasswade, Midlothian. In April, the Fife base moved to Crosshill Business Centre in Crosshill near Lochgelly. Most recently the Glasgow base moved in December 2009 to the Maryhill Community Centre in Maryhill and a clinic opened in October 2009 at the Pastoral Centre in Dundee.

At the time of writing, we currently employ 15 staff, 12 music therapists (4 full-time and 8 part-time), an administrator based at our registered office in Lasswade and 2 fundraisers (one fulltime and one part time) based in Glasgow. The work carried out is largely done on an outreach basis in schools, hospitals, hospices, residential health care settings and community / voluntary sector projects. A small number of private referrals are also undertaken in the workrooms at our three bases. Geographically, our outreach work takes us into the Lothians, Fife, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth and Kinross, Angus and Lanarkshire.

In a typical school term week in 2011, our music therapists worked with around 300 children and adults for both group and individual sessions. Additionally, we provide a healthy training programme and in 2010, we gave 31 training sessions, presentations and workshops, with nearly 472 delegates in attendance from a wide range of backgrounds.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is our sister charity, and has its Headquarters in London. As well as music therapy taking place in this centre, Nordoff Robbins has many services across England and Northern Ireland. For further information, please visit their website: www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk