Holbeck-based music charity Cloth Cat has secured funding from the National Lottery to deliver three more years of music activities, in order to support young people across the city aged 11-18.
The organisation has spent the last four years delivering Get Your Act Together, a series of after school music courses and mentoring for young people, which has seen the charity work with over 300 people.
Cloth Cat developed Get Your Act Together to offer young people an opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and build their confidence, all whilst learning music in a fun and safe environment.
To date, the charity has provided a safe space for people to learn music, including sessions in Guitar, Keyboards, Singing, Songwriting, DJing, Drums, Ableton Live, Rapping and Radio. The project has also included a mentoring scheme, offering bands the opportunity to work with a music industry professional in developing their songwriting and performance, and to record a track at Old Chapel Music Studios.
The sessions are taught by a number of musicians from Leeds and beyond, and have included; Greg Grainger (Drummer with Whitney Houston and Santana), Rob Brander (Bass player from Leeds-band Marsicans), Fuzzy Jones and Nicky Bray (Songwriters from Leeds).
The project, which is aimed at supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing through music, has seen such success that it is now set to expand over the next three years.
For the next phase of the project, the charity aims to continue running sessions for young people in a range of subjects, whilst also taking the project further across Leeds, delivering “taster sessions” at local community organisations, in order to help more young people.
Cloth Cat Manager, Shelly Johnson, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that the National Lottery are continuing to fund Cloth Cat so that we can help more young people who are struggling from across the city. We are so proud of how we have been able to support those in need through music through Covid and such difficult times over the past few years and can’t wait to get started on the new project”
A parent of one of the participant’s said;
“These classes have brought my son a group of new friends and we know what he is doing and where he is now … The whole family has noticed the positive changes and his new confidence.”
A young person attending the project said;
“I can really relate to the tutor because he has been in a band and he lets us get on with it, but he knows when to offer help … playing with this group of people is very supportive and we all help each other which has given me a lot of confidence.”
The new term of Cloth Cat courses will begin in September 2023, find out more at www.clothcatleeds.org.uk/projects/get-your-act-together
If any local organisations would like Cloth Cat to deliver a taster session for their young people, they can contact Cassie Pinder or Kath Hartley at gyat@clothcatleeds.org.uk or call (01130 244 2773.
This post is based on a press release issued by Cloth Cat
Photo: Shutterstock
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