On 13 May 2026, the Sing Up Foundation launched its new publication, 'Being Seen, Being Heard, Feeling Connected: Children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, and what singing makes possible'. This webinar features a panel discussion chaired by Katherine Zeserson (Chair of Sing Up), with Professor Graham Welch (Chair of Music Education, UCL Institute of Education), Benjamin Turner (founder of Rap Club and Spit Game), and Baz Chapman (Joint Head of the Sing Up Foundation and lead author). The conversation explores the publication's key findings, including why mental health challenges are rooted in disconnection and how singing can help restore it, why safety and agency are essential, what practitioners need to do this work well, and how young people are adapting to a world where being seen carries real risk. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 04:30 Film on Singing and Mental Health 08:00 Overview of the New Publication 12:45 Key Findings from the Report 18:20 Mental Health Crisis Context 22:15 Connection Theory Explained 26:30 Panel Introduction and Roles 30:45 Benjamin Turner’s Insights 36:00 Graham Welsh’s Perspective 39:30 Does Music Choice Matter? 43:30 Well-being in Music Education 47:15 Creating Safe, Unedited Spaces 50:30 Addressing Adolescent Engagement 54:00 Trauma-Informed Practice Needs 57:30 Youth Leadership vs Ownership 60:45 Next Steps and Closing Remarks Download the publication: https://www.singupfoundation.org/news-and-research/being-seen-being-heard-feeling-connected Listen to the Inspiring Voices podcast: https://www.singupfoundation.org/inspiring-voices-podcast Find out more about singing for children and young people's mental health: https://www.singupfoundation.org/about-singing-for-mental-health #musiced #musiceducation #singingforhealth #singingforwellbeing #artsinhealth #creativehealth #SingForConnection #mentalhealth #youngpeople #childmentalhealth

Does it matter what young people sing? Three practitioners on repertoire, agency, and singing with young people whose mental health is fragile. Recorded on 11 September 2026, this is the first in a new series of live conversations from the Sing Up Foundation on singing, vocal work and children and young people's mental health. The session opens from a provocation raised by Katherine Zeserson at our publication launch: music isn't just the setting for what we do, it's a physical force, and it can disturb as much as it connects. Chanté Osageide, Jenny Trattles and Mark Bick join Baz Chapman to look at a question that sounds simple and isn't: what are we going to sing today, and why that rather than something else? Certain songs and genres clearly appeal to young people, and there's a strong case for following their lead. There's also a case for widening the picture. Music can unsettle as readily as it lifts, sometimes at a level nobody in the room could name. And while agency over repertoire is widely held to matter, what that looks like in a real session, and when narrowing the choices is the kinder option, is far less settled. Along the way: drones and modes, culture and authenticity, why admitting mistakes opens doors, working alongside music therapists, and whether we should be singing sad songs with sad young people. The series follows our publication Being Seen, Being Heard, Feeling Connected, which brings together over 50 sources of evidence, practice insight and lived experience on singing and young people's mental health. CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and introductions 0:34 Does it matter what we sing? 2:53 What goes through your head when you plan a session 3:49 "You have just ruined my day" 5:11 Giving young people control over repertoire 8:11 Drones, modes and why some music settles us 11:35 Culture, authenticity and the music young people keep private 14:51 Empower first, and motivation follows 17:03 One-to-one, small group, large choir: where the power sits 19:27 Big sings, and when a song carries more than you planned 22:00 Why admitting mistakes opens doors 25:19 Exposure, humiliation and the risk of using your voice 27:13 Building from one-to-one work towards group music making 29:13 Handing the arranging over to the young people 32:03 A song nobody could name: music with displaced young people 34:03 Your questions: should we sing sad songs with sad young people? 37:35 "Lovely Day", memory, and an unplanned encounter 39:59 Working in partnership with music therapists 43:28 Drop your assumptions: a lesson from a care assistant 44:54 Your questions: what's the place of just singing? 46:28 Your questions: repertoire for primary children new to singing 48:49 Closing thoughts, and the next live conversation NEXT IN THE SERIES Need to Know, Nice to Know, Too Much to Know: what do you really need to know about the young people in the room? Wednesday 21 October, 1pm – 2pm. Free to book: https://www.singupfoundation.org/event-details/need-to-know-nice-to-know-too-much-to-know READ THE PUBLICATION https://www.singupfoundation.org/news-and-research/being-seen-being-heard-feeling-connected OUR PANEL Mark Bick is a community musician and trainer, founder of what became The Music Works, and a former chair of Sound Sense.Chanté Osageide is an actor, singer and music facilitator, and programme coordinator at Living Song in Newham. Jenny Trattles is a freelance music education consultant working with schools, trusts and music hubs on singing strategy and staff training, and co-leads ABRSM Voices. ABOUT SING UP FOUNDATION We produce, promote and create opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. UK registered charity no. 1172438. singupfoundation.org #MusicEducation #YouthMentalHealth #SingingForWellbeing repertoire agency young people's mental health, singing and mental health, music education mental health, young people's agency music, singing for wellbeing, group singing mental health, music therapy young people, choir mental health, vocal leading, singing leader CPD, music teacher wellbeing, children's mental health singing, Sing Up Foundation, community music, youth music wellbeing

Trauma-informed singing and songwriting with young people whose mental health needs extra support: what do you need to know about the young people in the room before a session, what can only be found out once you're in there, and what is better not known at all? In this live conversation from Sing Up Foundation, Baz Chapman and Celi Barberia are joined by spoken word artist and community practitioner Yasmin Ali (Y.A. Poet, @YAPoet-oy9js) and Dr Phil Mullen, who has spent more than 40 years making music with socially excluded children and young people. Together they explore how practitioners using singing, songwriting, rap and spoken word can work safely and creatively with young people who may be struggling with their mental health. Topics include: • What to ask before a session, from known triggers to young people who may withdraw quietly • When a diagnosis helps, and when labels get in the way • Holding space and quick check-ins • Working on the edge – and why practitioners aren't there as detectives or therapists • Getting it wrong, and how to repair • Safeguarding and when to pass a concern on • Inclusive practice with large groups, classes and choirs • Looking after your own wellbeing as a practitioner This is one of a series of live conversations accompanying Sing Up Foundation's Being Seen, Being Heard, Feeling Connected. Its online hub is a finalist for Outstanding Music Education Resource at the Music & Drama Education Awards 2027. 📖 Explore the Being Seen, Being Heard, Feeling Connected hub: https://www.singupfoundation.org/news-and-research/being-seen-being-heard-feeling-connected 🛡️ Safe Spaces guide, commissioned from Blue Cabin (@wearebluecabin): https://www.singupfoundation.org/about-singing-for-mental-health/exploring-effective-practice/safe-spaces 🎧 Inspiring Voices podcast – full episodes: https://bit.ly/4iSvsPS 🔔 Join us live next time – sign up to hear about our next live conversation: https://www.singupfoundation.org/subscribe SPEAKERS Yasmin Ali (Y.A. Poet) – spoken word artist, lyricist and community practitioner working with Lewisham Music and Alchemy at Goldsmiths; founder of Blossom Young Mums Dr Phil Mullen – music practitioner, trainer and author of Challenging Voices: Music Making with Children Excluded from School Hosts: Baz Chapman and Celi Barberia, Joint Heads of Sing Up Foundation With contributions from the live audience, including Emma Rowland-Elsen (Sing Out Strong and Choirwise), Andrew Langford (British Association for Music Therapy) and Janine Magnin (Association of Teachers of Singing). CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome: what do you need to know? 3:02 Opening thoughts from Yasmin and Phil 6:19 What to ask before a session 8:44 Diagnoses, labels and meeting the individual 10:14 Holding space and check-ins 16:54 Working on the edge 23:36 Getting it wrong: repair, repair, repair 28:38 Safeguarding: when to pass it on 33:19 Singing with large groups 37:54 Connection and practitioner wellbeing 44:16 Audience question: inclusion as standard practice 54:20 Thanks and what's next Sing Up Foundation is a UK registered charity (No. 1172438) championing singing for children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. #TraumaInformed #MusicEducation #YouthMentalHealth #CommunityMusic #SingingForWellbeing #SingUpFoundation #SingForConnection