Una's story: the sound of jazz

Una's story: the sound of jazz

Una is an unpaid carer who provides daily support for both her mother and her teenage daughter. Her mother lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is also recovering from the effects of a stroke, requiring ongoing assistance and support. Alongside this, Una cares for her teenage daughter, who is autistic and benefits from additional support with her education, emotional wellbeing, and social development.

Balancing these caring responsibilities often leave Una feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and with little time for herself. Recognising that she needed additional support, she reached out to her social worker to discuss the challenges she was facing. While exploring ways to support Una in her caring role, her social worker introduced her to the Time to Live fund and discussed how a short break could help improve her wellbeing.

During these conversations, Una spoke passionately about her love of music. Music has always filled her home, and over the years she has learned to play several instruments. However, one instrument had always stood out to her: the saxophone. Learning to play was an ambition, but it had never felt financially or practically achievable alongside her caring responsibilities.

With support from her social worker, Una applied for a Time to Live microgrant and was delighted to learn that her application had been successful. The funding enabled her to purchase a refurbished saxophone along with sheet music, allowing her to begin learning in her own time and at her own pace.

"Fortunately, I was able to reach out and ask for help at home and was lucky enough to hear about the Time to Live fund. Thanks to the grant, I was able to take time out to learn the saxophone in my own time and at my own pace. It's incredibly relaxing for me and I absolutely love the instrument. It is so beautiful to listen to and play. I don't really have the words, but a huge thank you for this support."

For Una, the grant provided much more than a musical instrument. It created an opportunity to prioritise her own wellbeing and establish regular, achievable breaks from her caring responsibilities. Having dedicated time to focus on learning something she enjoys has helped her reduce stress, improve her mental wellbeing, and find renewed balance in her daily life.

"The breathing involved in playing allows me to slow down, focus, and relax. It has become an important way for me to manage stress. Mum loves listening when I play as well. We both enjoy jazz, so it's something we can share together. It's helping us all relax..."

The Time to Live fund helped Una turn a long-held dream into reality. By supporting her to pursue a passion for music, and opportunities for relaxing.

Find out more about Time to Live here.