Today marks two years since the launch of the Tonic Rider programme.
Over the past two years, Tonic Rider has been promoting good mental health in the music industry via a programme of FREE training courses, support groups, taught workshops and 1-to-1 sessions - exclusively for working musicians and music industry professionals in the UK.
"I continue to be immensely proud of the support we provide the music industry. Tonic Rider has grown considerably in two years and I look forward to the programme expanding again in 2023."
Jeordie Shenton, Tonic Rider Programme Coordinator
In this short amount of time we have provided:
158 hours of FREE training courses
64 spaces on Mental Health First Aid
60 spaces on Suicide First Aid Lite - New for 2022
120 spaces on Mental Health Awareness in the Music Industry
16 spaces on Mental Health Champion
24 spaces on Suicide Intervention
166.5 hours of FREE support groups
192 spaces on Peer Support Groups
48 spaces on Wellbeing Groups
32.5 hours of FREE taught workshops
50 spaces on Music Performance Anxiety
30 spaces on Emotional Resilience
50 spaces on ACT Skills
72 hours of FREE 1-to-1 sessions - New for 2022
9 spaces on Counselling Sessions
12 spaces on Support Sessions
"Tonic Rider got me through the pandemic and beyond, I will forever be grateful to the people of Tonic Music for mental health for picking me up and showing me that I wasn't alone. Thank you for creating a safe space for my thoughts and feelings, and providing a community of support who are understanding of my mental health issues and how to navigate them in a tough industry. The Tonic Rider is a true lifeline to all of us in the music business."
Amy Bee Sting, Vocalist & Creative Director (Oh My God It's The Church)
"Happy birthday Tonic Rider! My experience doing the Tonic programmes has been truly amazing, the team are all awesome and you get to meet lots of interesting people from the creative industries on the courses. I would recommend the Tonic Rider to anyone. In February of this year I am going to have completed all the main programmes and can now use the knowledge and skills to help and inspire others in my work going forwards, they have also helped me out massively on a personal level. Big up all at Tonic, sending love and Good Vibrations, I admire all that you do."
Deano Craggs, DJ & Festival Crew (Good Vibrations Society)
2022 was another great year for Tonic Rider with highlights including:
Expanding our partnership with Help Musicians / Music Minds Matter to provide more Peer Support Groups.
Attending the Music Minds Matter - Mental Health in Music: Leading Positive Change event at Abbey Road Studios.
Providing our first Peer Support Group in partnership with Independent Venue Community and Help Musicians for music industry professionals based in Scotland.
Providing our first Peer Support Group in partnership with the Musicians’ Union and Help Musicians for music teachers.
Providing a Peer Support Group exclusive for artists and staff at Mayfield Records.
Establishing a referral pathway for clinical support with the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).
Concluding our work on the The Libertines' Giddy Up A Ding-Dong Tour.
Pete Doherty x Frédéric Lo performing two fundraising gigs on the same day for Tonic Rider at Tonic HQ.
The Libertines performing a fundraising gig for Tonic Rider at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool with support from Jamie Webster, James Walsh (Starsailor), Peter Hooton & Keith Mullin (The Farm) and Calboa.
Delivering our first in-person training day to staff at the Albion Rooms recording studio and live venue in Margate.
Providing our Never Mind the Stigma stand at various Dub Pistols shows.
Hosting the 4th annual Barry’s Flying Circus.
Providing our Never Mind the Stigma stand at Boomtown Fair, Victorious Festival. Mucky Weekender and We Out Here Festival.
Participating as a panelist on the Getahead Panel at the Night Time Economy Summit to talk about burnout in the music and night time industries.
Presenting a talk about Tonic Rider at the Mayfield Records Conference.
Mayfield Records taking over Tonic HQ for a day of live music.
Being interviewed by Spaces International, Ticketpass and BBC Music Introducing (Beds, Herts and Bucks) to talk about Tonic Rider.
Stay tuned for announcements on our website and social media pages about Tonic Rider - including new additions to the programme and resources.
"Tonic Rider offered a professional peer support network at a time where I was feeling isolated in my creative practice. Having a confidential space to explore work related themes with others in my industry provided validation for my experiences. This helped me understand that I was not alone which helped put my mind at ease."
Lise Mitchell Noble, Voice Artist, Producer & Performer
"Working with Tonic Rider and the Tonic team as a course provider and peer support facilitator is an honor. The work Tonic does is incredible and unique, implementing much-needed awareness and training around mental health in music. The team is so caring and inspiring, it’s affirming to meet people who share the passion to change the way the music industry approaches mental health."
Rachel Jepson MBACP (Accred), Tonic Rider Facilitator
Sadly, 2022 also ended on a tragic note with the passing of our founding patron, Terry Hall (The Specials), who was a wonderful advocate for the Tonic Rider programme and Tonic Music for Mental Health as a whole.
"I can’t thank Tonic Rider enough for their support and guidance. Tonic does fabulous and much-needed work, in what can be a stressful industry."
Damian Morgan, Manager (The Orielles)
Upcoming Dates
Peer Support Group: Leeds (funded by Help Musicians)
in partnership with Independent Venue Community
24th January to 28th February (Six weeks 1:00 - 2:30pm)
facilitated by Chris Madden (at Oporto)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England accredited)
30th/31st January to 6th/7th February (four day - 1:00 - 5:00pm)
instructed by Jade Hughes (via Zoom)
Suicide First Aid Lite (City & Guilds assured)
13th February (1:00 - 5:00pm)
tutored by Jade Hughes (via Zoom)
Peer Support Group: Open (funded by Help Musicians)
27th February to 3rd April (Six weeks - 12:00 - 1:30pm)
facilitated by Adam Ficek (via Zoom)
Peer Support Group: Music Performance Anxiety (funded by Help Musicians)
1st March to 5th April (Six weeks - 10:00 - 11:30am)
facilitated by Lucy Heyman (via Zoom)
Mental Health Awareness in the Music Industry (CPD accredited)
12th March (9:30am - 3:30pm)
provided by Rachel Jepson (via Zoom)
"I completed a Mental Health First Aider course through Tonic Rider, enabling me to better support those that worked in and visited our record shop. In the process, they helped me better understand my own mental health, whilst providing me with a support network of like minded people."
Kirsty MacLeod, Music Researcher
"Being able to discuss and process my past negative experiences of popular music education has been highly valuable to my mental health. Tonic has provided me with safe spaces to talk, be it via my participation in the Green Room video at the famous 100 Club, to the excellent Peer Support Group. I have met some very interesting people and heard their amazing stories or the music industry and their experiences with mental health. I feel very lucky. Thank you Tonic."
Sarah Sharp, Postgraduate Researcher
If you would like to attend any of the training courses, support groups or taught workshops listed above, our registration form is available to complete via the button:
Alternatively, if you are already registered, please email tonicrider@tonicmusic.co.uk
Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the Tonic Rider programme over the past two years - including all our participants, facilitators, volunteers, patrons and ambassadors.
