Music and the Mind

Music and the Mind s is a Lancashire community interest company that
produces music and arts events aimed at tackling mental health stigma and promoting mental wellbeing.

Called Music and the Mind, the company is the brainchild of Brian Gumbley, widely known in the industry as ‘The Jazzman’. Brian has been producing Jazz events across Lancashire for many years. He said; “It’s been a long-running dream of mine to set up a not-for-profit company with service user involvement at its heart.”

Dan ‘disco’ Johnson - Marketing Director for the initiative and former nightclub manager, added: "The entertainment events we produce and artists involved will be of the highest standard and will attract a wide spectrum of the general public. The events will be exciting, entertaining and fun, as well as raising awareness around mental health, giving our guests something to take away and think about.”

Both Brian and Dan have been affected by mental health issues and are keen to emphasize that there is light at the end of what is sometimes a very dark tunnel.

The company, which has taken over six months to set up, uses the valuable skills of service users and is already catapulting those involved down the road to recovery.

Open Up are currently bolstering Music and the Mind by providing excellent
support, training and advice. Funding through Time to Change has helped to kick start its first production: ‘Beat the Blues’ was held at the Grand in Clitheroe in early May with a lineup of established and up-and-coming artists, and lots of partner organizations on hand offering informal advice on mental health in a relaxed and friendly environment.

On the group’s future plans, Neil Catton, Music and the Mind’s HR Director and Governor of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust added, “We’ll be
producing many other amazing music events in Lancashire and Cumbria over the coming years and there are loads of opportunities to get involved. We’re always on the lookout for new artists and performers as well as providing a steppingstone for people who want to assist with organizing and promoting events.”

For more information visit www.musicandthemind.co.uk