Brent faces a disproportionately high rate of mental health issues compared to the national average[1] exacerbated by disparities in access to care and community engagement. Sound Sanctuary uses the power of music to enhance the wellbeing of Brent residents currently experiencing challenges to their mental health.
We aim to reduce isolation, foster community connections, and complement existing mental health services through group music-making opportunities. By providing accessible and inclusive music programs, we aim to improve participants' wellbeing, strengthen partnerships, and expand the reach of mental health support in the borough.
Brent Community: Drop-in sessions
Research has shown that music can have a positive effect on mental health, and working with others on creative pursuits is one of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ championed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
If you’re an adult experiencing mental health or wellbeing challenges, you are warmly invited to join musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for fun, creative music sessions to listen to and create music alongside professional musicians. Monthly sessions are evidence-based and designed to provide respite and improve mood, delivered by our specially trained musicians and Workshop Leaders.
At each session, you’ll get the chance to meet professional musicians and work together with other participants to create brand-new pieces of music and songs. You’ll be supported to try out instruments and devise melodies, lyrics, rhythms and styles for your pieces, expressing your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
No prior musical experience is required to take part, and lots of different genres or types of music will be explored. A range of instruments will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you already play.
Morning sessions in partnership with Brent Mencap are specifically designed for Disabled adults and their carers, and in the afternoon, we run sessions which move around the borough each month, designed for those in the community living with mental health challenges. Interested guests can either self-refer or be referred by other community and health organisations in the area.
"I really enjoy coming for the music and they are really lovely." - Brent participant during the sessions in 2024
“It was wonderful… You can’t imagine the difference I saw in people because of the event. We have been working with them for ages to get such a high-impact therapeutic response, and you folk come along and achieve this in one evening.” Danny Maher – CEO, Ashford Place Adult Community Centre
Participation is free, but prior registration is required. Please complete the below registration form or call 07740 941 136 to secure your place.
Other areas of Sound Sanctuary:
In addition to our monthly community drop-in sessions, this project is also including other elements, responding to the range of situations where mental health and wellbeing is a prevalent and creative group music-making can provide respite, community and support.
- Young people's wellbeing collective: engaging secondary schools and community settings with music taster sessions, culminating in an intensive two-day project. Youth voices will shape future programme development.
- Trainee leadership programme: developing local music talent into community workshop leaders, expanding the workforce, and increasing programme sustainability. Link: Meet our trainee leaders for 2024-25.
- Kingswood Centre partnership: one multi-day music project at Kingswood Centre in collaboration with their resident music therapist, culminating in a recorded performance to support participant reflection, recovery, and continued music-making in the centre.
- Refugee Hotel partnership: one multi-day music project working in collaboration with local arts organisation We Restart in Wembley’s refugee hotel, culminating in a performance
[1] According to the Mental Health QOF prevalence, in 2021/22, 1.15% of patients were recorded on practice registers as having a mental health diagnosis. This is higher in comparison to the England average at 0.95%.
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