QED Foundation has received £18,292 thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery.
The funding boost from Postcode Community Trust will enable the Bradford charity to provide music therapy sessions to patients with Alzheimer's disease or dementia in the city's care homes.
'We are concerned that the small number of Asian residents are at risk of becoming isolated,' says QED Foundation chief executive Dr Mohammed Ali OBE. 'We know that music brings back memories for older people and it helps to lift their mood and improve their wellbeing."
'We hope to make a real difference to the residents' lives by recruiting volunteers who will befriend them and encourage them to enjoy singing, dancing and playing instruments such as the dholak, dhol and tabla.'
QED Foundation will also equip care homes with CD libraries and help the staff to provide musical activities. Volunteers will be trained to deliver the sessions by Asian Virsa, a Bradford-based voluntary organisation that brings communities together to explore the culture of the Indian subcontinent including dance, singing and music.
'I am really pleased to work with and support QED Foundation on this excellent initiative,' says executive director Dr Harjap Pooni. 'It will provide much-needed musical entertainment to the older Asian generation.'