LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — Julie Whelan, CEO of the music charity Nordoff Robbins, announced that she plans to retire at the end of 2019.
According to Nordoff Robbins, Whelen is not planning to move on to a new role but plans to retire from permanent work.
“My time at Nordoff Robbins has been the most fulfilling ever as I’ve seen on a daily basis the positive impact that our music therapy has for those living with life-limiting illnesses, disabilities or isolation,” Whelan said.
“I’ll miss the organization deeply but I am at an age where I want to take time to travel and have new adventures personally and then undertake some volunteering after a rest. I’ll be in the enviable position to do a comprehensive handover when my successor is appointed and move on knowing the charity is in a good place to carry on its important work,” she added.
Nordoff Robbins Chairman David Munns said: “During her five year tenure here Julie has doubled the number of people we support through our music therapy, led the merger with our sister organization in Scotland, expanded sites and partnerships right across the UK and made sure we now employ more music therapists than ever (now circa 75% of our workforce). The Board has just signed off a new strategy to significantly increase access to our services for those who need it most. We are confident we will be able to secure an outstanding successor to Julie to take this forward.”
Nordoff Robbins, which launched its fundraising efforts in 1976, has become the largest music therapy charity in the UK helping thousands of people each year. The organization offers outreach services nationally in partnership with organizations in health, education, arts, and social care, to help people of all ages who live in many different and challenging circumstances.
Nordoff Robbins also supports the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Unit, which opened in 2009 on the grounds of the BRIT School in Croydon and a third unit which was opened at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015.
