Family Registration
What is Little Amber?
Little Amber is a Music Awards scheme who have a vision impaired baby or young child, including those who may also have additional disabilities, aged 0 – 5 years old. Families involved in the scheme will be given a set of music activity cards, a set of percussion instruments, and will receive 8 hours of home visits a year by a specially trained practitioner. These 8 hours can be arranged flexibly to meet the needs of the child and family, with the minimum length of visits usually being half an hour and the maximum length usually being 2 hours.
What happens during home visits?
The aim of the home visits is to support parents, carers, siblings and any other family members to engage their vision impaired baby or young child in music. The music practitioner will lead a fun and inclusive music session specially designed to give ideas for everyday music-making at home or when out and about.
Every family is different, which means that every music session is different! The Little Amber scheme is all about supporting each individual child and their family in whatever way works best for them. Families are encouraged to talk with their music practitioner about what they would like to do in their home visits and how they can get the most of their Little Amber award. Most of all, families are encouraged to join in the joy of making music with their child.
Who is eligible?
- Little Amber Music Awards are for babies and children aged 0 – 5 and run until a child’s fifth birthday, after which families are eligible to apply for a main Amber Trust Music Award or AmberPlus Award. (Visit www.ambertrust.org for further information.) We welcome applications for children with additional disabilities.
- New applications can be made up to a child’s fourth birthday.
- All applications should be made by a parent or guardian but can be supported through the process by a health care worker or an early years practitioner.
When should I apply?
Little Amber holds three award meetings per year. Applications should be submitted by the deadlines given below to guarantee they will be included for consideration at the meeting. Late applications will only be considered at the discretion of the trustees in exceptional circumstances. In most cased late applications will be carried over to the next meeting.
The award will be reviewed every year and is eligible for renewal subject to a satisfactory report from the music practitioner and completion of a feedback form by the family.
| Meeting | Deadline |
| March | End of February |
| July | End of June |
| December | End of November |