Writing and spoken word support healing and growth

We caught up with the brilliant Music House about their Clear Our Your Closet Collective, and how creative expression can improve mental health and resilience.

Can you tell us a bit about Music House?

Music House is a Leeds-based music charity with a 130-year legacy—making us one of the longest-standing (if not the longest) music establishments in the city. 

We believe music and singing should be accessible to everyone in our community – no barriers, no exclusions. As a charitable trust inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do.

Leading the way is our Creative Director, Christella Litras—a powerhouse singer, songwriter, and composer whose vision is lighting up Music House. 

We offer 1:1 music and singing lessons, plus six-week beginner courses for ages 7–14 in singing, violin, piano, and guitar… a perfect first step into music. Our teachers also lead weekly ensembles and rooms in our beautiful music space are available to hire by the hour, half-day or full day.  

Last year, we launched our very own Gospel Community Choir (thanks to grant funding) – now thriving, taking bookings and even featuring on Channel 5’s Winter on the Farm Christmas Special!  

Our doors are always open to young musicians, and we love seeing the diverse mix of young adults using our space to rehearse, collaborate, and create. This is exactly what Music House is all about! 

 

What has funding from Leeds Community Foundation enabled you to do?

Thanks to funding from Leeds Community Foundation, we’ve been able to create and deliver the Clear Out Your Closet (COYC) Collective – a creative wellbeing project using writing and spoken word to support adults facing mental health challenges. 

Led by spoken wordsmith Michelle Scally-Clarke, COYC runs 60 weekly sessions – a mix of in-person and online, where participants explore mental health themes through guided writing and storytelling. These sessions will produce original digital, print and live resources to support others on similar journeys.
Alongside this, picnics, park walks, open mic nights, and outreach activities will help build community, offering a space to connect, express, and be heard. 

At Music House, we believe in being people-focused, flexible, and inclusive, creating opportunities for all to navigate life’s challenges through creativity. With an accessible location, parking, and major bus routes nearby, COYC is open to everyone—whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out. 

Michelle’s mantra… “Come write, connect, and clear out your closet—one word at a time.”

 

Can you tell us about the impact of what you do on the people you work with?

COYC Collective is designed to have a significant impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of participants by providing a safe, creative outlet to process and express complex emotions. Writing and spoken word have long been proven to help people reflect, articulate their experiences to make way for healing and personal growth. 

By participating in guided writing sessions, individuals can gain clarity and understanding of their own mental health, transforming difficult experiences into something tangible and meaningful – which is especially important for people managing mental health challenges. 

The community aspect of the project is equally important. Through outreach activities like picnics, park walks etc – people taking part in the project can build connections with others who share similar experiences. This sense of belonging and mutual support is vital for improving mental health because isolation can worsen feelings of anxiety and depression. The opportunity to be heard and understood within a safe, non-judgmental space also boosts confidence and reduces feelings of stigma, allowing individuals to feel more open about their struggles. 

In summary, COYC supports mental wellbeing by offering creative expression, emotional release, community connection, and a supportive environment, all of which are key elements in improving overall mental health and resilience. 

Listen to Michelle speak talk about the impact of her weekly wellbeing poetry group 

 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as an organisation?

One of the biggest challenges we face as an organisation is balancing accessibility with sustainable growth. While we’re committed to making our services available to all, particularly in Woodhouse and Little London, two of Leeds’ most deprived areas, the reality is that many people in our community are struggling financially. We do our best to offer free or ‘pay what you can’ projects to make music and wellbeing accessible, but it’s tough when the demand is so high and funding is limited.

A significant barrier is the competition for funding. With so many organisations vying for the same pots of money, it’s increasingly difficult to secure the support we need. The application processes are often lengthy and time-consuming, and with a team of just two part-time staff—a Creative Director and a freelance worker who contributes 10 hours a week—we’re stretched very thin.

In addition to funding, we face rising rent and running costs, which all add up. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to creating a legacy and safe space for future generations but diminishing grant funding and resources make it harder to keep pushing forward with our vision. 

Ultimately, it’s all about thinking creatively to generate income so we can continue offering opportunities to the community. We’re always exploring new ways to secure financial stability while staying true to our mission of accessibility and inclusion. 

 

How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed?

At Music House, we’re thinking ahead and working hard to make sure we can keep doing what we do for years to come. We’re exploring new ways to bring in money, like offering more music courses, renting out our spaces, and teaming up with other organisations. This helps us keep doing the things that matter most to our community. 

Looking to the future, we want to make sure that we’re creating a safe and welcoming space for future generations to enjoy. To make that happen, we need steady funding to cover things like rent, staff, and the development of new projects that support mental health and music education. 

It’s all about finding the right support so we can keep offering affordable, high-quality services to people who need them most. We’re always looking for new ways to fund our work and make sure we can continue making a real difference in people’s lives.