Hub Wins Top Award
On Wednesday 14 March at a special ceremony in Winchester Portsmouth Music Hub received the High Sheriff of Hampshire's Award for its music education publication called It's CPR.
The songbook has been created to teach primary-aged children Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and it brings together music and medicine to teach children the skills they might one day need to help save a life.
All the songs meet the medical standards required to implement CPR, and they have been written at the speed of 100 - 120 beats per minute which is the speed for giving chest compressions. Heartbeats Heroes, The Defibrillator Song and The CPR Rap are just some of the songs which are inspiring children, and it's the combination of words, music and actions that has produced such a positive response from teachers, children and their parents.
In the past year the songbook has been enjoyed by thousands of children in Portsmouth and recently other Music Hubs have started to teach the songs to children in their areas. The songbook is fast becoming a teaching tool which is used around the country.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday Sue Beckett, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "From the start our goal was to develop a songbook that had real appeal for children, that's always been the benchmark for the work we do and for all the songbooks we've composed in the past. However, It's CPR is different, it still has the music and lyrics that children enjoy, it's still engaging and exciting, but we've deliberately developed a songbook that has an important key message. It's a songbook that can change lives, a songbook with a social agenda, and we believe that developing cultural initiatives that impact on the wider community is part of our job; it's not just about creativity for its own sake, it can be about influencing and improving the world around us."
The Awards Ceremony, which took place in Winchester Great Hall, recognises the work of individuals and groups in Hampshire that make a difference to the wider society.
The High Sheriff, Mary Montagu-Scott, speaking after the Awards Ceremony, said: “The Awards Ceremony was a truly enjoyable occasion and I am delighted to recognise the inspirational work of Portsmouth Music Hub in teaching young people across Hampshire these vital life-saving skills through music education. The Hub provides a resource that both children and adults can use to save lives, which can make a valuable difference not only to the residents of Hampshire but much further afield. I congratulate Portsmouth Music Hub for their contribution in making Hampshire a safer place to live, keep up your fantastic work”