Mind the Music

Mind The Music
Mind the Music is a programme supporting young people with mental health and wellbeing issues through creative music making.

Community Music has always been committed to supporting people from all backgrounds and life situations to be able to take part in music activities, whether learning an instrument at our Music Space Academy sessions after school and on Saturdays, or on our 2-year Foundation  degree in Creative Music Production and Business, run in partnership with the University of Westminster.

There is a rapidly growing mental health crisis in the UK for young people.

The statistics are clear:
. 1 in 8 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder – that’s roughly 3 children in every classroom.
. 1 in 6 young people aged 16-24 has symptoms of a common mental disorder such as depression or an anxiety disorder.
. In total, less than 1% of the total NHS budget is spent on children and young people’s mental health services.

The positive effects of creative participation for those with mental health challenges are well documented–notably in an all-party parliamentary report 'The Arts for Health and Wellbeing' https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/

Community Music respects the value of neurodiversity, especially in the creative industries, and aims to help young people develop their creativity to increase their resilience and self confidence.
Mind the Music provides a creative support system which enables young people to access an outlet for creativity, build their confidence and skills, meet like-minded young people and grow through music.

The project provides music workshops for young people in partnership with CAMHS (Child Adolescent Mental Health Services) in Tower Hamlets and Newham,
The Coburn Centre inpatient unit for young people with mental health needs, and those already enrolled on Community Music courses.

These take the form of weekly group workshops alongside one-to- one sessions with individuals referred to us or from existing internal courses.

We are also delivering a range of training in mental health awareness and support for Community Music tutors which, in order to support the development of the creative sector, we are opening up to creative arts leaders across the UK.

The Mind The Music programme is funded by Children in Need, the JA Clarke Trust and Youth Music.

For more information about the Mind The Music programme please email: Zoe@cmsounds.com