Some equipment which currently stands alone, such as the bubble machine, will be incorporated into the obstacle course and triggered by sensors.

The idea came from a support worker who has been bringing students from a local school to the Music Gym for over two years. She recognises the value of the large space and has sometimes used it to teach students to operate their wheelchair themselves. She also believes that all young people need the thrill of something unexpected and unknown, regardless of their disability.

The design for the castle is being developed with an inflatables manufacturer. Unfortunately this is their busiest time of year, so it may not be in the Music Gym until October. We’re confident that when it does appear it will be well worth the wait.

It must be the week for awards - we’ve also learned that Decoda is in the final of the Edge Upstart Awards for Social Enterprise, run by the New Statesman. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on June 18th and in the meantime there’s more information at http://www.edgeupstarts.org/2008/awards

If you’d like to know more about bringing someone to the Music Gym, please contact us by phone 01424 444322 or by filling in the contact form.

Besides The Magic Cake you can try out “The Four Stones”, “The Speaking Room”, “Mountfield Hall of Mirrors” and “21st century Music and Movement”.  MJM Access will also be running two short 45-minute workshops exploring how disability affects people’s lives at 1.30 and again at 3. (more…)

Because the Music Gym is aimed at people with profound disabilities the members need their support staff in the hall at all times. It can be a great opportunity for them to have fun together and for the staff member to see someone do something they hadn’t thought possible. (more…)

This was the upshot of the concert - Tom being presented with a cheque for £760 last Friday after he’d been to the school to demonstrate how we use some of the equipment in the Music Gym.

Thank you again.

If you’d like to see the film that inspired these students to put on a concert for the Music Gym please click here.

If you’d like more information about sending someone to the Music Gym please call us on 01424 444322 or email us.

Sunny, who’s based in Birmingham, contacted us about displaying his work in the Music Gym. As we set up and dismantle the equipment each week that wasn’t feasible so we offered instead to use the images IN the Music Gym. They can be seen on the wall adjoining the “chill-out” gazebo where members can relax, watching the images and changing them as they wish with the use of switches and sensors. (more…)

The Rooms, cafe and bar in Western Road St. Leonards is offering discounts to Music Gym members during April. We were delighted as at the Music Gym we aim to offer new experiences for people with profound disabilities in East Sussex and we felt a visit to the Rooms would also offer a new experience for many members. (more…)

Although the Music Gym is designed to engage people with profound disabilities through the use of music, sound technology and images, the important element is the engaging and if that comes about through throwing and catching a ball then all well and good. (more…)

Good news - the Swanfest will be happening again this year, at the beautiful Swan pub in Lamberhurst. The provisional date is Saturday July 26th and there’s the possibility of a camp site nearby for people who don’t want to drive home afterwards.

It’s organised by Four Seasons Events and last year Gez had some wonderful musicians playing there. He even managed to arrange for the sun to shine which was quite an achievement in a summer when events everywhere were being washed away.

Proceeds go to the Music Gym, the activity in Hastings for people with profound disabilities.

 If you want to be kept up to date with what’s happening there’s a Swanfest group on facebook and more details will appear here as we have them. There’s also a whole gallery of photos at www.myspace.com/fourseasonsevents

We’ll be looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways including collecting tickets and flipping burgers. If you’d like to be involved please give us a call on 01424 444322 or email us or fill in the contact form.

First, it’s been adopted by the training company JamBerry Ltd. for corporate team-building. This can be for including everyone in making music, even those who really believe they can’t play a note, or for tailor made modules such as Find That Song - working together to locate a certain piece of music in a completely empty room. (more…)

For anyone who doesn’t know about it, the race has been voted the best Half Marathon in Britain in the past. It’s a scenic, if gruelling route, and coming as it does in mid March it’s good training for the London marathon.

It’s organised by the local Lions who raise a lot of funds for local organisations. This year we’re encouraging anyone who’s undecided about entering, or anyone who’s entered but for no cause in particular, to consider running to raise money for the Music Gym. (more…)