The MORABE Rural Music programme, a charity dedicated to widening access to music education, has received funding from East Suffolk Council to help expand its reach. Founding Director Maria Dobing explains what it means for mums and babies
Established in 2018, MORABE Rural Music aims to break down financial and geographical barriers by bringing the transformative power of music to rural areas, with its flagship Pathways Programme already delivering sessions and lessons in schools and local communities. The charity recently applied for £5,500 of funding from the Melton, Woodbridge and Deben Community Partnership to provide sessions focused on maternal wellbeing and support for babies and new mums until July 2026.
The free, weekly sessions will follow a successful pilot scheme and aim to reach 150 participants in rural communities by the end of the year – with a primary focus on enhancing mental and emotional health during a critical life phase.
Maria Dobing, Founding Director of MORABE Rural Music, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the Community Partnership scheme. This vital funding will empower us to address rural inequality while fostering cohesion and wellbeing in our communities through music.
“We are especially excited to expand our work in maternal wellbeing and early years access, ensuring more families in the region can benefit from inclusive musical experiences.
“The support of our local and regional councils, along with the local healthcare network, is essential in making this vision a reality in a truly integrated way – we are therefore incredibly grateful to the Community Partnership for enabling us to make this vital work possible.”
Partnership Chair, Cllr Stephen Molyneux said: “We were really impressed with MORABE’s ambition to roll out its programme for rurally isolated pregnant and new mums.
“We hope its impact will be felt not only by participants and their families, but also in the broader community through increased awareness of maternal health issues, and through strengthened links with healthcare providers and community organisations.”
There are eight Community Partnerships across East Suffolk, with an overall budget of £1.73m earmarked to tackle priority issues identified by local people. Each partnership comprises East Suffolk councillors working in collaboration with town and parish councils, Suffolk County Council, businesses, police, health and voluntary organisations, community groups and youth representatives.
The current priority of the Melton, Woodbridge and Deben Community Partnership is to increase access in rural communities to activities that support physical, mental, and environmental wellbeing for all ages.
Visit MORABE and follow@moraberuralmusic on Instagram and Facebook. Also, visit Community Partnerships – East Suffolk Council.
Featured images from MORABE Rural Music’s early years Mini Music sessions (Credit: Mark Lindley Photography)
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