Music is really important. It’s helped me in a lot of ways to express myself, tell people how I’m feeling, and lovely to just listen to it sometimes.
Before coming to The Music Works, Ellie had never really done songwriting or anything like that. She always loved music, but writing her own songs wasn’t something she had explored yet.
Struggling with her mental health and finding it extremely difficult to express herself, Ellie would barely speak and often concealed herself in hoodies.
That started to change when Ellie was introduced to The Music Works during a stay in hospital. Here she met Misha (Music Therapist) who was leading our Hospital Education programme, and began engaging with music in a more active way. These sessions provided a vital creative outlet during her treatment.
After being discharged from hospital, Ellie transitioned into one-to-one sessions through the Key Changes programme at our Gloucester Hub, where she slowly started to open up creatively.
The journey wasn’t straightforward. There were ups and downs, but the stability and consistency of these sessions became instrumental to her recovery. Over time, Ellie began to change how she saw herself and what she was capable of.
She now attends The Drop – a significant milestone for someone who once found being around others so difficult. Through these group sessions, she has built meaningful friendships and experienced creating in a recording studio for the first time.
A key part of her journey has been confidence. Where Ellie once found it difficult to speak or be around others, she is now enjoying performing her own songs on stage to an audience.
My favourite thing about coming to The Music Works is probably at the moment performing because I’m such a theatre kid.
Ellie’s journey shows how powerful music and creative support can be for young people going through difficult periods in their lives. From one-to-one sessions in hospital to performing her own songs on stage, she has slowly rebuilt confidence, connection and belief in herself. Music became more than just something creative – it gave Ellie a way to express emotions safely, build relationships, and begin looking towards the future with hope again.
The impact of The Music Works on Ellie’s life has been, in her mum’s words,
Life-changing and in some ways life-saving.
Key Changes provides one-to-one and group music sessions to support young people who might be struggling with mental health challenges.
We’re a friendly team and always happy to answer any questions you have.
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