Southend YMCA's Huge Hangout at Leigh Community Centre

September 29, 2021

The Huge Hangout is a free one-day event hosted by the Southend YMCA’s youth projects, All In Music and FYV. It will bring together youth from Southend and surrounding areas to explore mental health, whilst celebrating local musical talent. Comedy and Radio Essex presenter duo, Ross McGrane and John Oakes, will host the event.

The event on World Mental Health Day, Sunday 10th October 2021, aims to promote mental health awareness and wellbeing by providing talks, music, activities and workshops throughout the day, helping young people to explore coping strategies such as music, physical activity and art.

The Huge Hangout for World Mental Health Day will run from 12:00 - 18:00 on Sunday 10th October at Leigh Community Centre, 73 Elm Rd Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1SP.

Free tickets are limited and can be reserved by booking at www.bookwhen.com/southendymca. This event is presented in association with The National Lottery Community Fund and sponsored by Leigh Music Co.

Southend YMCA Positive Activities Manager, Sacha Edwards said: “Mental health means different things to different people, but a resounding and uniting element is the need for support, openness, and continued work to remove the stigma from some of the most debilitating illnesses affecting so many people right now.”

“I’m delighted that we are able to hold ‘The Huge Hangout’ at Leigh Community Center this year & have the opportunity to come together to raise awareness of mental health. As part of the event, we’ll be launching our new nationwide YMCA campaign ‘Small Talks’ which encourages people to take the time to have meaningful conversations with friends, colleagues & even strangers as part of the ‘Small Talks, Big Difference’ initiative. We’ll also be delivering suicide awareness training & signing young people up to our Mental Health Champions programme to create a vital support network of people to help lighten the load, not just on World Mental Health Day, but all year round.”

Live musical performances from All In Music’s bands and musicians will be scheduled throughout the day. The full lineup includes local acts such as Trip Hazard, New Rome, Nate Doucette, Katie B and many more.

Southend YMCA is a local charity offering life-changing, creative and developmental opportunities for young people. You can find out more about the exciting projects and initiatives the YMCA offers at www.southendymca.org.uk.

The All In Music project delivers tuition, resources and support to young people aged between 10 and 25 years of age. It aims to improve skills and confidence through music to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity. The project’s Southend-based music studio has a dedicated staff with a wide experience of working within the music industry. For more information about All In Music, please visit www.southendymca.org.uk/all-in-music.

FYV is an initiative funded by The National Lottery Community Fund that empowers young people to have their voices heard on the issues that they care about. The project not only listens to the concerns and aspirations of young people, but also provides them with the opportunity, skills and resources to take a proactive role in making a real difference to their community. For more information on FYV, please visit www.fyvproductions.co.uk.