Wolves Foundation has linked up with UK charity Playlist for Life to provide a personal Spotify playlist featuring a host of club anthems for people living with dementia and their carers.
The charity wants everyone living with dementia to have a unique, personal playlist, and base their work around two decades of scientific research showing that listening to a personal playlist can improve the lives of those living with the condition.
Wolves Foundation have, for several years, run a Molineux Memories project in partnership with the Black Country NHS team from Blakenhall Resource Centre where, prior to the pandemic, groups of people with dementia and their carers met at Molineux.
Each programme would run for ten weeks and cover topics such as a Molineux memories box filled with Wolves’ memorabilia, open discussions and football chat, as well as tours of the stadium and museum.
Former Wolves players have also visited the sessions with participants able to meet others with similar interests in an enjoyable and social group atmosphere.
The new playlist which the Foundation have worked on with Playlist for Life contains ten great songs to bring happy memories to Wolves fans of all ages, but especially those who might now be living with dementia.
“It has been really beneficial for us to link up with Playlist for Life to create this playlist, which we can circulate amongst people with dementia and their carers who have previously accessed Molineux Memories,” says Rachel Smith, Health & Wellbeing Manager with Wolves Foundation.
“In listening to the songs, hopefully this will bring back memories and help them to reminisce.
“Obviously it has been such a shame we haven’t been able to hold the sessions for much of the year because of the pandemic, but we have kept in touch with our participants with regular phone calls and being able to pass on details of this playlist is another great way to keep in contact.
“While we will be promoting the play-list to those who have accessed Molineux Memories, obviously it is available to any Wolves supporter who has dementia, and their carers.
“We really appreciate the support from Playlist for Life in taking the initiative forward.”
CLICK HERE to access the playlist, including tracks such as ‘Hi Hi Wolverhampton’, ‘Simply The Best’, ‘Those Were The Days’, and the ‘Happy Wanderer’.
Peter Butterworth, a Local Organiser for Playlist for Life, said: “It has been wonderful to work with Rachel and Wolves Foundation to bring this Wolves playlist together.
“I hope it will give fans a lot of enjoyment and spread awareness of the power of personal playlists to improve the lives of those living with dementia.”
To find out more about the power of personal playlists, or how to make a personalised playlist for someone close to you, click here to visit the Playlist for Life website.
*There is also a separate official Wolves playlist for supporters on Spotify, which can be accessed by clicking here.
