The AMBER Trust was set up especially to help blind or partially sighted children – including those with additional disabilities – to access and enjoy music. AMBER knows how important music is to these children: it is not only a source of great pleasure, it also encourages learning, boosts their confidence and helps to develop each child's self-expression and communication, opening up a world of independence and hope for the future.


For AMBER's children, music is not just a pastime – it’s a lifeline.

To enable blind or partially sighted children – from toddlers to teenagers – to access the music they enjoy and from which they can benefit so much, AMBER provides funding for music lessons, music therapy sessions, the purchase of musical instruments, software or other equipment, concert tickets and travel related to musical activities.

AMBER knows that children with sight loss, including those with additional disabilities, are less likely than sighted children to receive tuition or assistance due to other people’s misunderstandings about disability.

The AMBER Trust’s vision is to transform the life of any blind or partially sighted child living in the UK who finds music especially important. Each year, AMBER aims to raise as much as we possibly can to help as many children as possible reach their full potential. In order to achieve our vision we are entirely dependent on donations, which go towards grants for The AMBER Music Awards.

  £5 pays for a set of drumsticks
  £15 pays for a piano lesson
  £20 pays for a guitar lesson
  £25 pays for a music therapy session
  £100 pays for Braille transcriptions
  £120 pays for 10 clarinet lessons
  £450 pays for Sibelius music software
  £400-£600 pays for a drumset
  £800 pays for a year's piano lessons
  £900 pays for a new upright piano
  £1,000 pays for a year's music therapy sessions

For children who have severe and profound disabilities, music not only offers a unique channel of self-expression, it also enables them to share their thoughts and feelings with the people around them and the wider world.

For AMBER's children, music also:
   promotes learning and development
   helps with socialising
   improves concentration
   improves mobility skills

   helps in acquiring the skills to
     communicate confidently with others 

   teaches basic concepts, such as the
     difference between left and right

   helps to express emotion

   boosts confidence

   provides great pleasure and fulfilment

Derek Paravicini is one of AMBER's great
success stories. Now 26, he is blind, has
the IQ of a 4-year-old, doesn't know
his fingers from his thumbs and needs
round-the-clock care. But he has an
extremely rare gift – he is a musical
prodigy whose piano-playing has thrilled
audiences from London to Las Vegas.

Born prematurely, weighing just 1lb 5onz,
Derek remained in hospital for three
months and technically "died" several
times before he was finally strong enough
to go home. Before long, his parents
became aware that he was blind and that
he had severe learning difficulties and
autism as well. 

 Derek playing with Jools Holland

In 1995, Professor Adam Ockelford, together with a group of parents, friends
and supporters, set up The AMBER Trust in order to raise funds to build
the Soundscape Centre in partnership with the RNIB in Redhill, Surrey.

Professor Ockelford trained as a musician at the
Royal Academy in the 1970s before developing an
interest in music for children with special needs.
Since then, Adam has devoted much of his life
to teaching 'musical savants' - people with
exceptional musical abilities despite their
disabilities. Working with these young people
has led him to research how music makes sense
to everyone. He is now Professor of Music at
Roehampton University and continues to support
blind and partially sighted children and young
people in music-making.

AMBER continues to support the ‘Sounds of Intent’
research project. This worthwhile project has been
investigating and promoting the musical development
of children and young people with severe, or profound
and multiple learning difficulties, particularly those who
are blind or partially sighted.

A project website is currently under development, which will
provide a range of support materials and advice for teachers
in special schools, as well as parents and teaching assistants.

You can also donate money to go towards this fantastic project.