All together now

It seems rather fitting, what with it being the Paralympics starting this week to be doing something to benefit and encourage disabled people who live in Mallorca. Next week on Wednesday September 5^th I’m getting together a group of young musicians to do a benefit concert for Aspace.

Aspace is a centre for people with cerebral palsy and other similar disabilities. They support babies and children as they grow up, and through school and continue to work with adults right throughout their lives. The organisation has been going in Mallorca for thirty five years. It was set up by concerned parents who felt that the educational and physical needs of their children were not being met.

Back then in the mid Seventies there weren’t such things as ramps to get into buildings, or toilets big enough to get a wheelchair into, let alone the idea that someone using a wheelchair may be capable of holding down a job. Now the centre has grown and Aspace has over a hundred registered users of all ages. They offer a comprehensive service for people with disabilities and this means that they are helping disabled people integrate into school, and work and helping them to lead their lives to the full and enjoy themselves.

I have to declare an interest. I worked for many years in the UK in the theatre, in particular community theatre with different groups of disabled people (both physical and learning disabilities), so integration and inclusion are things which I really feel strongly about. And I think that local young musicians need to be encouraged and supported as they develop as well so hopefully this will be the first of a series of concerts we will do throughout the year. So that’s why I am organising a concert next at 7pm Wednesday September 5^th at Mood Beach.

Local youngsters from the island will play a mixture of their own and others’ songs. Performers include Luke Evans, Giorgio Garrett, and the band Jipsy. The evening will be hosted by comedian Glynis German. The money we raise will go to the Aspace centre and will be spent on musical activities, I like that: musicians raising money for other musicians. To get hold of tickets or for more information contact me on vicki@moodbeach.com .