Youth & Education
Songwriting & creative projects for schools, young people and education settings
Creative wellbeing, songwriting & emotionally intelligent learning through music
SONGWRITING • CREATIVE WELLBEING • YOUTH VOICE • CONFIDENCE • FACILITATION
Creative music and songwriting experiences designed to help young people build confidence, communication, collaboration, creativity, and emotional expression through safe, engaging, real-world creative practice.
These projects combine professional songwriting, music industry experience, emotionally intelligent facilitation, and wellbeing-informed creative practice to create experiences where young people feel:
seen
heard
encouraged
and genuinely involved in the creative process.
Creativity as connection, confidence & expression
Music has a unique ability to help young people:
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express themselves safely
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develop confidence in their ideas and voice
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strengthen communication and teamwork
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process thoughts and emotions creatively
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experience achievement through collaboration
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feel more connected to themselves and each other
These projects are not about perfection or performance pressure.
They are about participation, creativity, confidence, and shared experience.
Young people do not need previous musical experience to take part.
The focus is always creating environments that feel:
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inclusive
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engaging
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emotionally safe
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collaborative
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supportive
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creatively empowering
What The Projects Support
Projects can support:
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confidence and self-expression
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communication and teamwork
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emotional literacy and wellbeing
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creativity and problem solving
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youth voice and participation
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reflective learning and storytelling
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music and performance development
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creative collaboration and leadership
Where appropriate, sessions can also support:
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Health & Wellbeing outcomes
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expressive arts learning
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Rights Respecting Schools themes
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inclusion and participation goals
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creativity across the curriculum
Ways Projects Can Be Delivered
Projects are flexible and can be adapted for:
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primary schools
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secondary schools
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councils and local authorities
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youth organisations
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community arts settings
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wellbeing and inclusion programmes
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emerging youth musicians and bands
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creative partnerships and events
Delivery formats may include:
🌿 One-off workshops
🌿 Songwriting residencies
🌿 Youth wellbeing programmes
🌿 Recording and release projects
🌿 Band development sessions
🌿 Performance preparation
🌿 Creative curriculum projects
🌿 Cross-disciplinary collaborations
🌿 Community music initiatives
Projects can be delivered:
in person, online, or as hybrid experiences depending on the needs of the setting.
A Different Kind of Creative Facilitation
Elaine’s approach combines:
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professional songwriting and music industry experience
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emotionally intelligent facilitation
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nervous-system-aware practice
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educational experience
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reflective wellbeing principles
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collaborative youth-led learning
Young people are encouraged to contribute ideas, experiment creatively, and participate at their own pace without fear of “getting it wrong.”
The atmosphere is supportive, grounded, and highly relational.
Because when young people feel psychologically safe, creativity expands naturally.
Selected Creative Project Highlights
🌿 #1 iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart release created collaboratively with North Lanarkshire primary pupils
🌿 Multiple professionally released original songs written with young people
🌿 Three 5-Star Awards in the UK Songwriting Contest
🌿 Cross-college collaborations between primary schools and further education music students
🌿 Live youth performances at Cumbernauld Theatre and community events
🌿 Climate-awareness songwriting project recognised by Greenpeace and Monica Lennon MSP
🌿 Youth band mentoring and performance preparation projects
🌿 Ongoing partnership work with North Lanarkshire Council and community organisations
Featured Youth Projects
WIN THIS FIGHT
Climate Awareness Songwriting Project
A collaborative songwriting project developed with St Mary’s Primary School exploring:
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climate awareness
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emotional expression
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children’s rights
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creativity through music
Young people:
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co-wrote original lyrics and melodies
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recorded vocals professionally
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collaborated with college music students
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released the song commercially
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explored teamwork, confidence, and creativity through music
Outcomes included:
✔ UK Songwriting Contest 5-Star Award
✔ Recognition from Greenpeace
✔ Recognition from Monica Lennon MSP
✔ Commercial release on streaming platforms
HO HO HO — IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME
A collaborative festive songwriting project created with Holy Cross Primary School pupils in North Lanarkshire.
Young participants contributed to:
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lyric writing
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melody development
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artwork ideas
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studio recording
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live theatre performance
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understanding the professional music release process
Outcomes included:
✔ #1 iTunes Singer-Songwriter Chart
✔ Live performance at Cumbernauld Theatre
✔ Professional commercial release
Youth Band Development & Mentoring
Support for emerging young musicians preparing for:
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rehearsal and collaboration
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confidence building
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live performance
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recording preparation
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creative identity and teamwork
This included mentoring members of one of the youngest bands to perform at the North Lanarkshire Battle of the Bands, where drummer Jamie Lennon received the Outstanding Performance Award.
The band later recorded original material at Reeltime Studios with ongoing creative support and preparation.
Additional Creative Education Projects
Projects have also included:
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STEM-linked songwriting workshops
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literacy and storytelling through music
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imagination-led collaborative songwriting
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creative confidence building for younger learners
In one North Lanarkshire STEM project, pupils aged 5–8 formed a songwriting group and collaboratively created original music inspired by storytelling and imaginative learning.
Following the workshop, one pupil independently wrote her very first song — a small but powerful example of the confidence creative expression can unlock.
About Elaine
Elaine Lennon is an award-winning singer-songwriter, educator, facilitator, and wellbeing practitioner with experience delivering creative projects across schools, youth settings, community organisations, and live music environments.
Her background combines:
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professional songwriting and touring experience
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university lecturing and education
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youth and group facilitation
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wellbeing and nervous system-informed practice
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emotionally intelligent creative leadership
Her work bridges creativity, wellbeing, reflection, confidence building, and human connection through music-led experiences that feel calm, engaging, inclusive, and meaningful.
What Young People Often Leave With
Beyond the music itself, young people often leave projects with:
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increased confidence
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stronger communication skills
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a sense of achievement
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improved collaboration
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creative pride
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emotional expression tools
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positive shared memories
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belief in their own ideas and voice
Because sometimes the most important outcome is not simply the finished song —
but helping someone realise their voice matters.
Let’s Create Something Meaningful Together
Every school, organisation, community, and group is different.
Projects are therefore shaped collaboratively around:
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your setting
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your participants
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your aims
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your timeframe
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your wellbeing or educational focus
Whether you are looking for:
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a one-off workshop
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a songwriting residency
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a creative wellbeing programme
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a collaborative performance project
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youth band mentoring
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or a longer-term creative partnership
I’d be very happy to explore what might work best for your setting.
Elaine’s songwriting project was a tremendous experience which I know the children will remember forever.
— Head Teacher, St Mary’s Primary School, Cumbernauld
