‘Music is really important… sometimes a song makes people feel something’
Eight talented young people from across Hull have come together to release an inspiring charity single to raise vital funds for a hub that supports people with their mental wellbeing across the city. Students from Singing Coach Hull, run by Matthew Richardson, were brought together to record the cover of I’ll be there by the Jackson 5.
Matthew has been a singing teacher for 10 years but it was only a matter of weeks ago that he decided to get together eight of his students to create the charity single. The idea was born after a group of his students performed a cover of the song at the Stars of Tomorrow show at Hull New theatre. “I put forward eight of my really strong, confident singers,” he said. “We did about four hours of practice, it was really last minute. They performed it and just blew the roof off the place.”
That gave Matthew and colleague Brooke Sunlay an idea. “Myself and Brooke had a conversation the next day and I said I’d love to do something with it to give back if we can.” The pair decided to record the single and open a fundraising page to support Humber Wellbeing Hub, which provides early intervention, suicide-prevention and self-harm support to children, young people and adults. It offers support including drop-in listening, one-to-one sessions, therapy, and bereavement support – all without judgement – through the Humber Wellbeing Hub and the Blossom Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Service.
The single was recorded in an afternoon at Singing Coach Hull’s Cleveland Street studio, supported by producer Kalvin Casey and filmed by Fly Girl Films. The single was funded thanks to donations from Mel McKee and Garry Ireland, long-term friends of the Humber Wellbeing Hub after they lost their own daughter, Elle Ireland, to suicide. Jo Kent, the hub’s director and co-founder said the hub is “delighted” with the song.
Jo said: “It’s incredible really. Music is really important because it can reach people in different ways and sometimes a song makes people feel something. It shows that even when people are going through an incredibly difficult time, things can change and care and support is available. We were delighted. The song just blows me away. I don’t know how many times I’ve cried every time I’ve watched it. The words really mean something and knowing the work we deliver, we are really there for people who are at that point at the depths of despair, but help is available. Matt and Brooke talked about what it was that they wanted to do, they’d heard about all the work we were doing and they wanted to work with us. It came about very very quickly. We’ve been very lucky.”
The single was recorded in just a matter of hours in Matthew’s studio. He said: “We partnered up with Jo and we recorded it and filmed the video in about three hours. We did that in the building where I teach from. I have some glass booths and I converted it into a makeshift recording studio. Everything has been done without production value or a load of expensive equipment. It went live last night and we set the target at £5,000 – but the more we can give the better. The kids were all thrilled to be involved. The youngest has just turned 12, and the oldest is 16. They are just remarkably gifted. I’ve been teaching them all for some time now and I’m really proud of the project.
“We see so much around mental health and I work with so many young people. This came about because we’ve seen it first hand, we’ve seen people struggle. At some point we all lose somebody to their mental health. We wanted to give back to a charity that meant something. Young people are a huge part of the Humber Wellbeing Hub. We work with so many kids and young people and we see them having their own battles. Music and any sort of creative outlet is a healer. As well as raising the money I’d love to see more people see first hand what having a creative outlet can do.”
The young people will come together and perform at the Festival of Hope which runs from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September. The festival is being staged by the Humberside Wellbeing Hub and involves a whole weekend of events all tied together with the message: Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. The Festival of Hope begins on World Suicide Prevention Day, Thursday 10 September, with an open grief support session at the Humber Wellbeing Hub from 10am until 2pm. Anyone affected by grief or loss is welcome to attend. At 6pm, the community is invited to take part in the Walk of Hope. Following the walk, everyone will return to the Hub for tea, cake and an opportunity to talk and connect with others.
The Festival continues on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, bringing people together through live music, wellbeing activities, community stalls, family-friendly entertainment and a special moment of remembrance. The main Festival takes place on Sunday 13 September, from 10am until 4pm, at the Humber Wellbeing Hub in the Humber Bridge Country Park.
For more information visit the hub’s website or find it on Facebook @Humberwellbeinghub. The Hub is open seven days a week from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and on weekends from 10am to 4pm. Its other arm, Blossom, which is in Princess Quay, is open from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
For more information about Singing Coach Hull, visit its website or find the business on Facebook @singingcoachhull
The donation link can be found here.
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