Transforming experiences of healthcare and hospital for children and young people with complex needs

January News!

Listening, Learning, and Making Music Together

Hello and welcome to our January newsletter!

We’ve had a busy start to the year — unbelievably, we are already at the end of Year 1 of our Youth Music Project. The year has flown by, and writing our interim report has helped remind us how much we have achieved, as well as showing how our organisation has developed.

We are really proud to have worked with over 450 children and young people across three strands of our programme this year, in group and individual sessions in ward and communal spaces at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, as well as with families online.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our sessions, and well done to our brilliant team for delivering such compassionate practice. Over to our stories for this month — find out more below — over to Gloria!

Ros, Mark and Juliet

Lead Musicians, Co-Founders and Co-Directors, Songbirds Music UK

Training Day at the Youth Hub

On 20 January, our Young Creator and Young Associate musicians headed to the Youth Hub at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for a training session with Nic Rigby, the Youth Service Manager at MFT Youth Service, on working with young people.

The session was all about creating a safe and welcoming space for both young people and musicians. We practised holding conversations, sitting comfortably with silence, and exploring the emotions that pop up — both in ourselves and in the young people we work with. Using the hand model of the brain, we discovered how emotions can take over in certain moments, and why children sometimes struggle to communicate or regulate their feelings. We also reflected on what might be happening behind the emotions we see, drawing on our own experiences, and considered the different life phases young people may be navigating. Listening carefully, acknowledging voices, and interacting with care were at the heart of everything we explored.

A quote from our co-director, Ros:

“The training session with Nic was arranged to support our musicians in working with young people at the hospital, in particular at Youth Club. Youth Club sessions offer a different sessional format for our team compared to ward-based practice, and enable our musicians to reach young people in a different environment. Nic’s session has helped to give our team a deeper understanding of working with young people, and has helped provide a contextual framework for the musical support we bring into the Youth Club.”

As musicians, it can be tempting to jump in and lead, but we learned the magic of just being there — giving children space to explore, create, or simply enjoy the music at their own pace. Sometimes, simply sharing the moment with music can make a big difference. These were valuable lessons, full of reflection and inspiration, that will stay with us as we continue working with young people.

Ros also wrote about our afternoon session:

“In the afternoon, we had a fabulous all-together session, making music as a team. While these sessions provide musical support to patients and families, they are also important for our team to connect, practise ensemble skills, develop creativity and leadership, and learn from each other.

As one of our team says, ‘If you are freelancing, you can be on your own a lot. It’s great to be able to come together.’ This collaboration is vital for our team’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as their musical development. It was a joy to see the musicians interacting with each other, trying new ideas, and sharing their music with children and families today.”

Below: group picture of Songbirds musicians with staff from Therapeutic and Specialised Play Services and MFT Youth Service

Young Creator Musicians reflect on Youth Club

This year, our Young Creators have been spending time at Youth Club sessions — a welcoming space where children in hospital come to play, make music, and connect. Along the way, they’ve been learning together and discovering new ways of working in healthcare settings. Here’s what a few of them had to say about their experiences, from first impressions to memorable musical moments.

Nicole

“At my first Youth Club session in August last year, I was instantly struck by the kindness, openness, and musicality of the participants. Their excitement to play instruments and get stuck in was so uplifting — from hitting a boomwhacker, to learning first chords on a ukulele, to playing Happy Birthday on the piano. I quickly sensed how important music was to so many of these young people. During the many Youth Clubs I’ve attended since August, they’ve often introduced me to the music that helped them through tough times — from K-pop Demon Hunters to Frank Sinatra!

Through Youth Club, I’ve developed confidence working with young people of different ages and interests. I’ve learned how important our role as ambassadors for music in healthcare settings can be, whether that’s chatting about a favourite album or facilitating collective music-making that gives everyone a sense of belonging and community.”

Tessa

“Since working at Youth Club, I feel my confidence has grown significantly, especially in terms of leadership during musical interactions. In my first couple of sessions, I took on more of an observer role and was keen to learn from the other musicians. Now, I feel confident leading sessions alongside my peers, with a range of approaches to draw on. A standout moment was performing Bohemian Rhapsody with a patient who played piano, while Nicole and I accompanied on saxophone and clarinet. I can’t wait to make music with more young people in future Youth Club sessions!”

Hannah

“It’s been such a privilege to take part in Youth Club sessions as part of my role as a Young Creator. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been wonderful meeting the young people and making music with them. I’ve really enjoyed encouraging young people to try different instruments, create and write music together, and play music they already know — and my ukulele skills have definitely improved! It’s been especially meaningful to see young people feel enthusiastic about music, take on leadership roles, and find an outlet for their feelings through music-making.”

Below: Hannah and Charlie interacting with a Youth service member

Poppy: Swopera: Opera Reimagined — Relaxed, Playful, and for Everyone

Poppy Worthington Harris is a fourth-year vocal student at the Royal Northern College of Music and a proud Songbirds Music UK alumna. She took part in the Songbirds placement module last year and performed in a Christmas carols session for patients in Paediatric Critical Care at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in December 2025. Now, as part of her Creative Project module, Poppy is leading an exciting new performance project — Swopera: Opera Reimagined — supporting Songbirds and helping to make opera more accessible to wider audiences. Hear from Poppy below.

Join us on Sunday 15 February 2026 at 4:30pm for a unique and welcoming afternoon of opera at St Margaret’s Church, Whalley Range. This special performance reimagines well-known opera scenes with gender-swapped casting, offering a fresh, fun, and engaging way to experience classical music.

The performance features 10 singers from the Royal Northern College of Music, joined by the Lirica String Quartet. Designed to feel informal and inclusive, the evening is perfect for families, first-time opera-goers, and anyone curious about live music. Moments of humour and storytelling help to make opera feel approachable and enjoyable.

Tickets are just £5, with all proceeds going to Songbirds, a Community Interest Company that brings live music into Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, offering young patients moments of joy during times of uncertainty and worry.

Biscuits and refreshments will be available, and, if you’re able, donations to St Margaret’s Church are warmly welcomed to support this much-loved community space.

Whether you’re introducing children to live music, discovering opera for the first time, or supporting an incredible local cause, this promises to be a feel-good evening of music with real impact. Come along and experience opera in a way that’s more fun, more relaxed, and open to everyone.

Link to the ticket - https://www.eventbrite.com/o/poppy-worthington-harris-120906333104

Below: event poster

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