Natural Riddims is a successful creative wellbeing project funded by the Leeds Cultural Investment Programme and delivered by Music House, working with local young people and supported by Leeds City Academy.

The project supported young people to create original music inspired by nature, using sound as a tool for calm, reflection and connection. Participants recorded their own sounds outdoors, spending time in green spaces, slowing down, listening deeply and deciding what they wanted to hear. These natural recordings were then combined with their own musical compositions to create immersive soundscape pieces.

In a world full of noise, pressure and information overload, Natural Riddims created space for young people to reconnect with nature, practise mindfulness and explore healthier ways of supporting their mental wellbeing through music.

Special thanks to Dawn and Emma Collabs for their support, and to Leeds City Council for funding the project.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

 Natural Riddims successfully:

• Supported young people to explore music-making as a wellbeing tool
• Encouraged mindfulness, reflection and emotional regulation
• Strengthened young people’s connection to nature and outdoor spaces
• Built confidence, creative skills and collaboration
• Created lasting digital resources that can be shared with other young people

The project demonstrated how music and nature together can support positive mental health, resilience and self-care.

 

You might find these soundscapes useful when you:

• Feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious
• Need a break from screens and noise
• Want support with breathing and relaxation
• Are studying, resting or trying to sleep
• Want to feel more connected to nature

Use headphones if you can, find a comfortable space, and allow yourself to slow your breathing as you listen.

If you’re a young person looking for extra support, the following organisations offer free, confidential help.

Local Support (Yorkshire & Leeds)

• Leeds Mind
  Mental health support, counselling and wellbeing services in Leeds.
• MindMate (Leeds)
  Mental health support specifically for children and young people in Leeds.
• The Market Place (Leeds)
  Free, confidential support for young people aged 11–25.
• Yorkshire MESMAC
  Mental health and wellbeing support for young people across Yorkshire.

• The Mix – Support for under 25s (mental health, relationships, housing, money)
• YoungMinds – Mental health information and crisis support