Key Changes: Positive Mental Health Through Music Ltd

Founded in 2003 by patients at Highgate Mental Health Centre in North London in response to a lack of music on the wards, we have grown from a weekly music workshop in the hospital OT department into a charity that provides music programmes across London and regionally for young people and adults experiencing mental health difficulties.

Our work supports groups that are disproportionately represented in the mental health system. Over 85% of our service users are from low-income global majority backgrounds with half first engaging whilst sectioned under the Mental Health Act. We have a track record of developing specialist support for people facing intersectional challenges including racialised communities, people affected by homelessness, care leavers, refugees, forensic service users, LGBTQ+ community. We aim to address health inequalities, social exclusion, and stigma around mental health issues.

Our approach draws on clinical therapeutic techniques combined with specifically adapted elements of music industry practice. Our programmes support creative, technical and vocational skills and open pathways to mainstream opportunities in education, training, work experience and employment.