Kisharon receives £30,000 grant from Children in Need for music therapy sessions

A charity helping disabled Jewish children has been given a £30,000 grant from BBC Children in Need in order to fund music therapy for 35 Jewish youngsters.

Kisharon Day School leaders said they were “exceptionally grateful” to be awarded the money for the therapy, which teaches self-expression and aids language development in children and young adults.

“In so many cases the music therapy project is life changing,” said Sora Kopfstein, headteacher of Kisharon School. “To have the guarantee that we can now provide this therapy for three years is wonderful news.”

The therapy helps pupils with learning disabilities, which means they cannot always be taught through traditional teaching methods, and many of those who will benefit from the music therapy start off not being able to speak or communicate.

The charity said that, through music therapy, the pupils “will be able to sing and in some cases then be able to verbalise and communicate,” adding: “It also gives pupils with social and communication difficulties an opportunity to participate in a fun and enjoyable activity that they may not have had a chance to do previously.”