Youth Songwriting Hub
Proposal for Trailblazers Fund (1770 words)
1. Tell us about your organisation?
Change in Nature CIC is a community interest company based in Cornwall that creates community programmes supporting people to make positive change in their lives. Our objects include advancing the arts and creativity for the benefit of the public, including music, as well as faciliting a number of programmes exclusively for young people.
We believe that creativity, connection and collaboration can transform both individual wellbeing and community resilience. Our projects are rooted in the idea that people thrive when they are given the chance to express themselves, build confidence and feel a sense of belonging.
Our track record includes delivering large-scale community and youth projects such as the GROW Project, a six month programme for young people in Bristol which achieved significant outcomes around mental health, resilience and connection. Evaluation from GROW showed:
100% felt more positive about their life after the programme.
100% felt inspired and creative as a result of the programme.
100% reported building a strong and supportive community.
92% reported a stronger sense of meaning and purpose.
83% felt empowered to create positive change in their communities.
73% reported reduced anxiety.
Alongside youth work, we also deliver arts-based programmes for both young people and adults, including songwriting courses and community singing workshops. These projects consistently demonstrate how music and creativity can break down barriers, support wellbeing and strengthen community bonds. Participants often describe these programmes as “life-changing” and “a chance to finally feel heard.”
Young people are central to shaping our work. We consult directly with young people to ensure that delivery of our youth programmes reflects their needs and aspirations. For example, with our aspiration to run a Falmouth based community project, we have already spoken with young people in the area about what inspires them, what barriers they face and what would make them want to take part.
Young people influence not just the content of our programmes, but also the atmosphere and approach. That is why we are focusing this proposal is on building a creative hub rather than a formal songwriting course. We have embedded all of this feedback into the design of this project.
In short, we are an organisation that listens to young people and builds with them, not for them. We hope that our proposal for a Youth Songwriting Hub is the next step in our journey, creating a space where young people can find their voices, develop their skills and feel part of something bigger.
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"The seeds for a life changing experience."
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"A great opportunity in finding your song in a safe, supportive and fun way."
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"I felt I found my voice. Thank you for holding a safe space."
2. Who is the project for?
The Youth Songwriting Hub will work with 16–25-year-olds in Falmouth who are passionate about music but who face barriers to accessing creative opportunities. Many local young people experience financial hardship, mental health challenges and lack of access to professional arts provision. Cornwall has some of the highest levels of rural deprivation in the UK, and young people often feel isolated from the cultural opportunities more readily available in larger cities.
Our conversations found that young people are facing instability around employment, housing and finances. These social determinants are directly linked to mental health challenges, including anxiety, stress, feelings of disconnection and eco-anxiety. Young people in our local community have told us that opportunities for accessible, supportive and creative spaces are “thin on the ground” and unaffordable for many. By providing a free programme of workshops, we aim to reach those most affected by these pressures and who may not otherwise have access to this kind of support.
We will recruit a core cohort of 20 young people who will commit to a 10-week programme. These will include and prioritise young people facing barriers such as:
Economic disadvantage.
Mental health challenges.
LGBTQ+ young people seeking safe creative spaces.
Young people not in education, employment or training.
Young carers and others experiencing social isolation.
Alongside the core cohort, the project will reach a wider group of young people through:
Jam Nights: monthly informal gatherings for 30 participants, offering jamming, open mic and collaborative sessions. These nights will widen participation beyond the core cohort, reaching young people who may not yet feel ready to commit to a structured programme.
Final Concert: a celebratory gig co-created by the participants, expected to attract an audience of around 150 people (including 100 young people). This will not only showcase participants’ songs but also create an inspiring cultural event for the wider community in Falmouth.
The facilitators
The Hub will be supported by professional adults including:
Martha Tilston
An internationally recognised songwriter, performer and filmmaker with a large following worldwide (www.marthatilston.co.uk). She has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, released critically acclaimed albums and written and directed the feature film The Tape. As an associate lecturer at Falmouth University’s AMATA performance centre, Martha has taught songwriting, performance and the psychology of performance and writing. She has also delivered one-to-one songwriting mentoring, supporting students to explore creativity, process emotions and strengthen their wellbeing.
Andy Raingold and Guest Facilitators
Andy is a Director of Change in Nature, resilience practitioner and creative facilitator with a track record of youth engagement.
There will aslo be guest facilitators from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. These adults will act as mentors and guides, creating a safe and inspiring environment, while always keeping young people at the centre.
The balance of adult support and youth ownership is critical: participants will be encouraged to take the lead, whether in writing songs, shaping the concert, designing artwork or promoting events.
3. Co-designing with young people facing barriers
Co-design is fundamental to the Hub and we expect higher engagement if they feel ownership and agency in shaping the experience.
The Hub has already been informed by consultation with young people in Falmouth. Following outreach to young people facing barriers (see above), co-design will continue throughout the programme:
Week 1–2: young people will help decide on group agreements, teaching syllabus and the “vibe” of the Hub.
Throughout: participants will provide weekly feedback and suggestions, which will inform the next sessions and curriculum.
Concert planning: the group will decide the venue, promotion, setlist and event design.
Jam Nights: youth will shape themes and structure.
Year Two: participants from Year One will return as mentors and youth leaders, embedding peer-led continuity.
This iterative approach ensures that the Hub grows with its participants, rather than being a fixed, top-down programme.
The Hub will give young people facing barriers experience in leadership, decision-making and project ownership - skills that are just as valuable as songwriting itself.
4. The grant
The Trailblazer Fund will enable us to launch the Youth Songwriting Hub, a two-year programme with deep and wide impact.
Year One (April–July 2025)
10-week Course: 3-hour sessions for 20 young people (each session includes 4 x 15 mins one-to-one sessions = 40 in all).
Professional mentoring from Martha Tilston and guest facilitators + two CPD training sessions.
Skills developed: songwriting, lyric writing, composition, collaboration, performance and resilience.
Every participant will be invited to record at least one professional-quality track.
Food provided at sessions, ensuring inclusivity and community building.
Final Concert: co-created by participants, with expected audience of 150.
Year One (Sept–Dec 2025)
4 Jam Nights: monthly informal sessions, 30 participants. Builds ongoing community and lowers the barrier to entry for new participants.
Also encouragement for independent Hub-led events (organised by youth) such as open mic nights or other gatherings.
Year Two (2026)
Repeat of the 10-week course with new cohort, as well as concert and hub night sessions.
Year One participants act as peer mentors, sharing skills and supporting new members..
Outcomes and Impact
The Songwriting Hub will create transformative opportunities for young people in Falmouth facing barriers, supporting confidence, creativity and community while addressing urgent needs around youth mental health, isolation and belonging.
For participants
Songwriting is a proven tool for wellbeing and growth. Evidence from GROW and Wild Songs (a songwriting programme for young people and adults) shows how creative spaces can empower young people to connect more deeply with themselves, with others and with their wider environment.
Through the Hub, participants will:
Strengthen mental health and wellbeing. Songwriting provides a safe outlet for processing emotions. One Wild Songs participant said: “Songwriting gave me a way to process emotions I couldn’t put into words.” Others described feeling “less alone” and “so blessed to be brought together with caring, listening people.” These experiences reduce isolation and improve mental health.
Increase confidence and resilience. As one GROW participant reflected: “It has really restored, replenished and reset me.” By learning to perform, collaborate and share their work, young people will build courage, adaptability and trust in their own voices. Other feedback has been “I feel I have gained the confidence to write songs and believe in my creative process” and “I feel making music for me has taken a next step. The support of experienced musicians and singers was life changing.”
Develop skills for the future. Alongside songwriting, participants will gain transferable skills in communication, teamwork and digital literacy through recording and releasing songs. These experiences often inspire progression into further education, creative careers or leadership roles.
Deepen self-awareness and personal growth. As one GROW participant noted: “It felt like a rite of passage into adulthood.” Another participant said “It has been a life-changing experience for me… I have never written a song before and now I have.” By carving out space for reflection and creativity, the Hub will help young people explore identity, values and aspirations.
For the wider community
The Songwriting Hub will extend its benefits beyond the core 20 participants to create a ripple of connection and creativity across Falmouth’s youth community. It will:
Establish a vibrant youth music hub, welcoming around 30 young people to regular jam nights where they can experiment, collaborate and share.
Provide regular opportunities to gather, reducing isolation and creating safe, nourishing spaces for peer support.
Deliver a flagship youth concert co-designed by participants, attracting an audience of around 150 people. This will celebrate youth voices, showcase new music and inspire peers to engage with creativity and community.
