Today marks one year since the launch of the Tonic Rider programme.
Over the past year, Tonic Rider has grown from offering a six-week Peer Support Group and one-day Mental Health First Aid Champion course to a programme of three training courses, two support groups and three taught workshops. In that time, we have offered:
72 spaces on the Help Musicians-funded Peer Support Group facilitated by Adam Ficek across six cohorts.
80 spaces on the CPD-accredited Mental Health Awareness in the Music Industry course provided by Rachel Jepson across five cohorts.
64 spaces on the MHFA England-accredited Mental Health First Aid course across two Champion and two First Aider cohorts.
32 spaces on the Suicide Intervention course across two cohorts.
30 spaces on the Music Performance Anxiety workshop across three cohorts.
30 spaces on the Emotional Resilience workshop across three cohorts.
20 spaces on the Acceptance Commitment Therapy workshop across two cohorts.
24 spaces on the Wellbeing Group across two cohorts.
Alongside the programme, we have published two mental health resources: our 'Everybody Hurts: Help with Depression' guide featuring information about the symptoms and support available for depression, and 'Suicide Prevention Safety Plan' including guidance on grounding techniques and creating a safety plan. Both are available to download using the links below:
Everybody Hurts: Help with Depression
Suicide Prevention Safety Plan
In June, we showcased the Tonic Rider programme at the 100 Club with a Q&A session attended by key figures in the music industry - including Tonic patron Barry Ashworth (Dub Pistols) and Tonic ambassadors Denise Black, Seanie T, Biff Mitchell and Jeff Horton (owner of the 100 Club). As part of this event, Rockumentary TV created the 'In the Green Room' video, which is available view below:
In September, Tonic patron Barry Ashworth hosted the 3rd annual Barry's Flying Circus fundraiser at AeroSuperBatics Cirencester, which raised a massive £33,010 for the Tonic Rider programme. If you would like to wing walk for us in 2022, please email barrysflyingcircus@tonicmusic.co.uk
Tonic Rider were also fortunate enough to be invited on The Libertines 'Giddy Up A Ding-Dong' and The Specials 'Protest' tours. It provided the team with insight into touring life, especially the incredible amount of work that goes into a tour, enabling us to further tailor our programme to the needs of music industry professionals.
Aims for 2022
Continue delivering a full programme of online training courses, support groups and taught workshops.
Expand the Tonic Rider programme to deliver in-person training courses, support groups and taught workshops to individuals and organisations (including record labels and venues) within the music industry.
Publish additional mental health resources including guides on anxiety and music performance anxiety.
Re-join The Libertines 'Giddy Up A Ding-Dong' tour in February.
Stay tuned for announcements over the next few weeks about the expansion of the Tonic Rider programme - including changes to our Wellbeing Group and Suicide Intervention course.
Upcoming Dates
Acceptance Commitment Therapy - 9th February (6:30pm-9:00pm)
Emotional Resilience - 9th March (6:30pm-9:00pm)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England accredited) - 16th/17th March (two day - 9:00am-5:00pm)
Mental Health Awareness in the Music Industry (CPD accredited) - 6th March (9:30am-3:30pm)
Music Performance Anxiety - 26th January (6:30pm-9:00pm)
Peer Support Group (funded by Help Musicians) - starts 28th February (six week - 12:00pm-1:30pm)
If you would like to attend any of the following training courses, support groups or taught workshops, our registration form is available to complete via the button below:
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 year - including all our amazing participants, facilitators, volunteers, patrons and ambassadors.
