Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) and Music Action International (MAI) partnered through the Myriad programme to deliver a trauma-informed creative health project with young people aged 15–19, all of whom had recently arrived in the UK as unaccompanied asylum seekers. Living in Greater Manchester without their parents, these young people were navigating new systems, unfamiliar environments and deep uncertainty. Many were in the early stages of learning English and dealing with the emotional impacts of separation, migration and trauma.
Together, GMYN and MAI designed and delivered a music-based programme that prioritised cultural connection, safety and play. Across eleven sessions, participants explored drumming, songwriting, singing in their own languages, DJing and sound recording. The structure was responsive and trauma-informed, shaped by a break after initial tasters to reflect and adapt, based on participants’ interests. For many, it was the first time they had felt confident enough to express themselves creatively.
Participants described feeling calmer, prouder, more connected, and more confident:
“It made me very happy.”
“When I went home I was singing the songs we learned here.”
The Myriad partnership enabled both organisations to grow. For GMYN, this was the first time in recent years that music-based mental health support had been offered to this cohort. The sessions revealed just how central music is to these young people’s lives, and how valuable creative expression can be for emotional regulation, social bonding, and identity. We evidenced clear outcomes: improved confidence and wellbeing, meaningful participation in co-creation, and increased engagement from young people who may have otherwise struggled to connect. For several participants, this was the first time they had felt proud of something they had created or confident enough to express themselves in their own language in a group setting.
“We were always learning from the young people how they listen to music, how they talk, how they heal.”
Myriad also deepened GMYN’s thinking around ethical evaluation, confirming that tools like SWEMWBS may be inappropriate or even distressing for participants with limited English or high support needs. The project reinforced the value of observation-based feedback and creative reflection as more sensitive alternatives.
For MAI, the project created a new partnership and tested ways of integrating Myriad-trained placement artists. The experience highlighted the importance of planning time and cultural fit when placing new practitioners into high-sensitivity settings. It also confirmed MAI’s longstanding commitment to co-creation, group trust-building, and using music as a global language of connection.
Working with Myriad gave both organisations access to a wider network of trauma-aware creative practitioners and validated ways of working that are strength-based, flexible, and culturally rooted. The partnership has already led to longer-term benefits: GMYN plans to continue working with MAI, and both organisations have strengthened their approach to delivering inclusive, trauma-informed creative health projects. For other organisations supporting young people with complex needs and lives, Myriad offers a model for doing this work safely, confidently, and with care.
The Myriad partnership enabled both organisations to grow. For GMYN, this was the first time in recent years that music-based mental health support had been offered to this cohort. The sessions revealed just how central music is to these young people’s lives, and how valuable creative expression can be for emotional regulation, social bonding, and identity. We evidenced clear outcomes: improved confidence and wellbeing, meaningful participation in co-creation, and increased engagement from young people who may have otherwise struggled to connect. For several participants, this was the first time they had felt proud of something they had created or confident enough to express themselves in their own language in a group setting.
“We were always learning from the young people how they listen to music, how they talk, how they heal.”
“When I first joined the music sessions, I didn’t think I was good at music. I was new to the UK, on my own, and everything felt strange. I was very quiet at first, and I didn’t feel confident to join in. But the group games and singing helped me feel more relaxed. The sessions were fun, they made me happy, and for the first time in a long time, I felt calm.
As the weeks went on, I started to sing in my own language. I tried different instruments and joined in with the group recordings. I even gave DJing a go! That surprised me, but it also showed me I could try new things and enjoy them. When I went home, I kept singing the songs we’d learned. It made me feel proud.
Before, I thought of myself as more of a sporty person, not creative. But now I see myself differently. I know that I am musical and creative. I feel more confident in who I am. I loved being part of the group, and I felt connected. I didn’t want it to end.
I kept asking, ‘Why is it finished? When are we doing this again?’”
