Help Musicians UK will be joining us across the UK with a selection of shows this year. We round up where they’ll be over the week.
By Christine Brown, Director of External Affairs, Help Musicians UK
We at Help Musicians UK campaign for and support not just musicians at every stage of their career, but anyone in the music community, with a mission to work together in building a sustainable music industry.
The charity works to support those who work in the music industry through health and welfare services, advocacy, campaigning, creative programmes and targeted investment initiatives. As well as playing a vital role supporting working musicians who are dealing with an illness, injury or accident, our work also provides a range of opportunities to support learning and education across artistic practice, talent and professional career development.
The breadth and scale of our work is truly breathtaking from creating the music industry’s first mental health service Music Minds Matter, to campaigning for awareness around hearing loss with #HearForMusicians, supporting and giving grants to emerging talent, launching national and regional hubs in Northern Ireland and Scotland to give dedicated support and investment to the local music industries, to supporting this country’s grassroots music venues through Independent Venue Week, and that’s not even half of it!
Not bad for a 97-year-old charity that has its roots deep in classical music with Sir Edward Elgar as its first President. Over the years, Help Musicians UK has morphed from the well-liked and historic Musicians Benevolent Fund to the campaigning, life-changing and agenda setting modern charity that it is today.
The charity has seen its reach grow from nearly 1,000 people helped in 2014, to nearly 10,000 in 2017 and with the new mental health service Music Minds Matter, we aim to help many more this year.
The Music Minds Matter scheme was borne out of HMUK’s Health and Wellbeing survey in 2014, which highlighted the emotional needs of the music community. This was closely followed by HMUK’s commissioning of the University of Westminster and MusicTank to deliver a ground-breaking research study ‘Can Music Make You Sick?’ on the Music Industry and Mental Health. The results were shocking. The figures suggested that those in the industry are three times more likely to suffer from mental health challenges and around 70% had struggled with depression and anxiety. There was also the tragic and untimely passing of Chester Bennington of Linkin Park last summer, we recognised that the situation had become urgent.
As a result, Help Musicians launched the landmark 24/7 mental health service Music Minds Matter for anyone working in the music industry in December 2017.Music Minds Matter is the music industry’s first mental health service, it is now up and running and already helping people in the music community in their time of need.
Dialling 0808 802 8008 free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week gives anyone in the industry access to advice, clinical pathways and professional therapeutic services, including counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, even signposting to other services that support issues such as homelessness, addiction, sexual harassment and more.Callers may also be able to access to the charity’s grant funding programmes and advice on legal issues, debt and benefits.
HMUK is investing in and supporting mental health and Music Minds Matter for the long term. We have already started working with the music industry to end stigma and put mental health at the top of the agenda and future proof our music industry to be as healthy and successful as it can be.
https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/
Help Musicians is putting shows on across the whole week – tickets available from the ticket link on this site;
Monday 29th January 2018
Help Musicians UK And IVW in partnership with Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Big Jeff presents This Is The Kit plus support.
Crofters Rights in Bristol
Tuesday 30th January 2018
Help Musicians UK And IVW Presents: Mali Hayes with support from ANDCHUCK & J Frisco as part of Independent Venue Week.
Soup Kitchen in Manchester
Wednesday 31st January 2018
Help Musicians NI in partnership with IVW Presents Empty Lungs with support from Life Goals, Strange New Places
The Goat’s Toe in Bangor
Thursday 1st February 2018
Help Musicians UK & Heads Above The Waves for Independent Venue Week present Rainbow Maniac with support from JayCee and Luke Rainsford
The Big Top in Cardiff
Friday 2nd February 2018
Help Musicians NI in partnership with IVW Presents The Wood Burning Savages
With support Roe, Molly Sterling
The Nerve Centre in LondonDerry
Saturday 3rd February 2018
Help Musicians UK And IVW Presents Skinny Girl Diet with local support
Pop Recs Ltd in Sunderland
Sunday 4th February 2018
Help Musicians UK And IVW Presents Laura Jurd with support from Helena Kay’s The KIM trio and Têtes de Pois,
The 100 Club in London
Sunday 4th February 2018
Help Musicians NI in partnership with IVW Presents Jesse van Ruller, Michael Janisch, David Lyttle, Meilana Gillard
Bennigans, Londonderry/Derry
