PRESS RELEASE: New training being developed for trauma and mental health-informed singing

Music for Good is delighted to have secured funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music to further develop and roll-out a programme of training for singing teachers and leaders. Working with Sing Up and the Sing Up Foundation, the training and resources will be focused on trauma and mental health-informed theory and practice and will be rolled out via Music Education Hubs in 2022. Music for Good Director and Practitioner Emily Foulkes has developed training based on her Masters research and will be joined by psychotherapists and other specialists to further refine and develop training and resources.

In order to help inform the training, a short survey (https://bit.ly/M4GSUFTraining) is available for singing teachers and practitioners to complete. The survey also provides an opportunity for leaders to express their interest in the training and sign up for updates. A mixture of face-to-face and online, the training will be available nationally to teachers and facilitators of singing with children and young people.

Emily says ‘particularly at this time, as we are emerging into life post-lock down, we know that mental health challenges are prevalent and mainstream services are likely to be under tremendous pressure. Equipping singing and music practitioners with skills and understanding in trauma and mental health could have a significant impact, especially as singing is fast becoming recognised for it’s potential to promote wellbeing.’

The Sing Up Foundation was set up in 2018 with the mission to produce, promote and create opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. With its commitment to this mission and the expertise of Sing Up, this is an exciting opportunity to disseminate training and resources to a wide audience and ultimately improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people through singing.

Celi Barberia, Head of Sing Up Foundation says, ‘Time and again, research has proved the impact that singing can have on health and wellbeing and we’re excited to help support teachers and leaders to incorporate this mental health-informed learning in their practice. At this critical moment with a growing mental health crisis, this work with Music for Good will support leaders today and also create resources and opportunities that will have long-lasting impact.”

For more information about this CPD programme or the work of Music for Good visit www.musicforgood.uk and for more information about Sing Up Foundation https://www.singupfoundation.org/

Notes to Editors:

1. The survey for singing leaders to help inform the training is available at: https://bit.ly/M4GSUFTraining

2. Music for Good is a charity based in Cornwall, providing, supporting and facilitating high quality music and singing provision to support learning and promote well-being. Established in 2001 as CYMAZ, Music for Good has been developing the workforce and delivering inclusive music activities for 20 years. A trauma and mental health informed organisation, the charity works in Education, Health and Community sectors.

3. The National Foundation for Youth Music provides Lottery funding to projects in England which are targeted at children and young people facing barriers to participation.

4. Emily Foulkes completed a Masters in Voice Pedagogy (distinction) with a specialism in trauma and mental health. She has delivered training and consultancy on this topic for a range of organisations, institutions and practitioners. Emily is a trainer for Trauma Informed Schools UK and a senior lecturer for the Voice Study Centre.

5. Sing Up is an award-winning organisation that began as a government funded programme to reinstate singing in primary schools in 2007. It was a very successful programme, reaching 98% of primary schools by 2012. Since 2012, when the funding stopped, the organisation has sustained itself entirely through earned income from schools’ membership subscriptions and the continued loyalty and investment from schools is a sign of the value they place on singing and on the work of Sing Up.

6. Sing Up provides resources, training and guidance to support schools and believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With ten years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing at the heart of learning.

7. Sing Up has always been a champion of the wider benefits of singing – for education, social and health outcomes – and marked its 10th birthday in 2017 by launching the Sing Up Foundation, a new charity with a commitment to a new charitable purpose supporting singing for health and wellbeing.

For further information, please contact Emily Foulkes, (email: emily@musicforgood.uk)