Starbucks Canterbury, Sainsbury's Kingsmead Road

Mustard Seed Singers runs two singing groups for people with mental health problems - one in Canterbury and one in Whitstable. Mounting research suggests that singing is very beneficial for wellbeing and improved mental health, particularly for those suffering from mental health problems. As 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems, it is very important that there are projects to support people by providing purposeful activity and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health, especially as formal services are struggling to cope. The group facilitator and founder of the charity has extensive psychological and musical training as well as having mental health problems herself - this gives her a unique insight. The singing groups create opportunities to increase social engagement and reduce isolation which is so often a problem. Our groups meet weekly and regularly perform in the Canterbury and Whitstable areas. At the moment, the age range within the groups is 21 to 84. The choirs are free to attend, which is key to the project's ethos that the groups should be open to everybody, regardless of financial situation. The groups welcome people with diagnosed mental health problems and anybody who feels that their mental and emotional wellbeing would be improved by joining one of our choirs.