Phoebe’s Ukulele Class a hit at the National Service User Awards

Phoebe, a service user at Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, recently proved a hit at the National Service User Awards where she won in the ‘Recovery and Arts’ category.

Phoebe won the award for her ‘Learn to Play the Ukulele’ initiative. Phoebe proposed and co-produced the four week course of at the hospital. The course allowed both staff and service users to learn, tune, care for and play the ukulele.

“Thank you very much for teaching me the Ukulele, I find playing it is absolutely wonderful and look forward to learning and singing more.”Service User, Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke

Phoebe was heavily involved in every stage of developing and delivering the course as she had self-taught skill in the ukulele. The service users and staff that attended all expressed a great deal of enjoyment and left the sessions in a very positive frame of mind. People expressed their surprise at how much progress you could make in a short time, and this goes to show how brilliant Phoebe’s teaching skills are!

“It was a fantastic achievement and she was a very worthy winner as the project was truly service user led and co-produced.”Paul, Occupational Therapist

Due to the success of the course, the group’s confidence and talents grew and they performed a song at the Christmas carol concert.

In addition to winning an award Phoebe also performed two songs at the awards ceremony whilst playing the ukulele. The performances went down really well and she received a standing ovation.

“It was the best day I have ever had! I found the whole day inspiring and it was nice to see staff and service users involved in something together. I was inspired to sing my own song by another service user who performed. I felt learning a new thing brought people together. Music lifts people up.”Phoebe

Congratulations to Phoebe for this fantastic achievement and for bringing her love of performing music into other people’s lives.

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