Music Challenge Fund: My Pockets Music
An evaluation report of My Pockets Music, a participatory music project focused on improving young people’s mental health.
Music Challenge Fund
My Pockets Music
This project is now complete
Increasing wellbeing of young people facing challenging circumstances through writing, recording and playing songs about their lives and experiences
The project in numbers
My Pockets works with young people in Hull and East Riding who face particular challenges in their lives, such as mental health problems or housing insecurity. Through innovative song-writing workshops designed to help them to express themselves and their experiences, the organisation aims to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Spirit of 2012 funded weekly workshops where participants learned to play instruments, composed and recorded music, and learned video-making skills. Eventually, the young people recorded their songs and performed for each other and their communities.
Project aims
- Participants improve their mental health and personal wellbeing, and have a greater understanding of how to manage their mental health.
- Participants feel they have a voice in and feel involved with their communities.
- My Pockets increase their capacity to deliver Arts and Health projects in Hull and East Riding.
Impact
The main thing it makes me feel when I come here is safe. Outside, it feels judgemental, you’re under pressure.
Charlie, Mind Group
I’ve got a guitar and my mam paid for two lessons, but they were £70 a time and she couldn’t keep it up, because she had to save up money for a school trip. Then she heard about this.
– Cieron, Child Dynamics Group
