Loophole Music is a project of Good Vibrations People, a previous recipient of Maudsley Charity funding. They use the power of music creation to help people dealing with serious mental ill-health who often experience:
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Limited music-making opportunities
- Low aspirations; barriers to work and education
- Low self-confidence and motivation
- Anxiety about new experiences and social interaction
- Negative self-identities and loss of hope
- Impaired communication skills
- Risk of, or actual, self-harm or addiction
For many, COVID-19 has seriously exacerbated these problems.
Loophole Music takes a holistic approach, empowering participants on their individual recovery journeys. Loophole is accessible to all. Participants work individually or in groups, directing their own musical progress, whilst building trust in others, confidence in themselves, and pride in their achievements.
Loophole Music will be open to adult and young adult in-patients experiencing serious mental ill-health at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Participants are likely to be experiencing conditions such as bipolar disorder, postpartum psychosis, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic depression, social phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
The programme welcomes people with existing musical experience, including those who play an instrument, sing, rap, write lyrics or produce their own music. They also actively encourage people with no musical experience, working with patients at all points on their recovery journeys – those recently admitted and those who are starting the transition back into the community.
Participants explore and improvise on a wide range of instruments and music technology. They might create new music as a group in one session, or an individual might work over several weeks to create a series of songs that they can promote once they leave hospital. For some it is a way of continuing and developing an existing interest or profession, making positive use of their time in hospital. Participants receive recordings of their music and tracks are shared online.
Continuing support
Loophole will continue to offer support once participants leave hospital, making links with community music-making opportunities, and presenting a showcase event in the second year of thi programme. This will provide continuity, build social connection, and further encourage creative expression through
music.
Their Keep-In-Touch programme also offers individualised support such as volunteering, other creative opportunities and bursaries for arts courses.
Good Vibrations’ partnership with Maudsley Charity is crucial to the work we do with people with mental ill-health at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Not only do they support our Loophole Music project with a generous grant, but they bring expertise and local connection, which is invaluable for us and for the people we work with
To learn more about Loophole Music visit their website.