MUSIC superstar Sting will officially open a new music therapy centre to help children in the North East.
The centre, at the former matron’s lodge at Newcastle’s Fleming Hospital, has been funded by the Graham Wylie Foundation and will be run by the UK’s leading music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, to support children and young people from across the region.
Sting, whose play The Last Ship is starting a nationwide tour at Newcastle’s Northern Stage, will declare it open on Wednesday 21 March.
The Wallsend-born star will be joined at the ceremony by Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson who earlier in the year broke ground on the new centre as building work began. The centre will feature a room named after the band, who have been at the forefront of fundraising for the Graham Wylie Foundation.
Nordoff Robbins music therapy uses the skilled use of music to help vulnerable and isolated people communicate and improve their wellbeing, and this centre will first of its kind outside London.
Along with donating the building, The Graham Wylie Foundation was a principal fundraiser for the centre through its Rock’n’Raise campaign, which was backed by a host of stars, such as Sting and Kaiser Chiefs.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sting for taking the time out of his incredibly busy schedule to declare the Nordoff Music Therapy Centre open,” said Foundation founder Graham Wylie.
“It will be a huge asset to the region and we are proud to have played our part in bringing it to fruition.”
CEO of Nordoff Robbins Julie Whelan said: “We are thrilled to have the honour of Sting with us to officially open our Newcastle centre.
“This new facility will enable us to reach more isolated and vulnerable people in Newcastle and the North East, helping to change their lives through music.
“We thank the Graham Wylie Foundation for making it possible, Sting for so generously giving up his time and the Kaiser Chiefs for their incredible support!”
For further information on the Graham Wylie Foundation visit http://grahamwyliefoundation.org.uk/.
For further information on Nordoff Robbins visit www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk