The Rise Up Project: Empowering Voices and Building Confidence in Teesside

The Rise Up Project, a free singing group based in Teesside, is providing a safe space for all, to build confidence, make friends and nurture their love for singing.

Journeying from No Confidence to Solo Performances at The Rise Up Project

Launched in August 2021, The Rise Up Project began with the aim to help people who, like its founder Chris Gray, lacked the confidence to pursue their love for singing.

Initially participants come together in groups, empowering each other through collective singing. The journey doesn’t stop there… Over time many members improve their confidence, eventually performing solos with microphones and learning vocal techniques through vocal coaching from Chris.

The project’s focus isn’t about producing singers- it’s about helping local residents improve their confidence and mental health. Members have the opportunity to progress at their own pace.

Founder of The Rise Up Project, Chris Gray, 42, from Stockton said: “At the Rise Up project we take people on a journey from no confidence.

“Taking them from singing as a group in the beginning to singing on mics doing solos and providing other things like vocal coaching.

“We help people in whatever their journey looks like. Not everyone wants to be a singer. They might be there to make friends and find a community and help their mental health. They might be neurodivergent or they might just need a safe space which is what we have created.

“We’ve created a safe space for people to come do something they love. Pick their own songs, sing, and just feel good. And at the same time, make friends and increase their confidence.”

More Than Just Singing: ‘It’s A Safe Space for All’

The Rise Up Project is committed to inclusivity and has become a safe space for all, including those who are neurodivergent and people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The creation of the group was born from Chris’s own struggle with confidence. Originally unsure of what the group would look like, Chris realised there were many other people who wanted to sing but didn’t feel confident enough to join a traditional choir or theatre group.

Founder Chris said: “When I launched my groups originally the reason was because I had no confidence, and I wanted to sing.

“So, I thought I’d get people like me who want to sing together. I didn’t know what it looked like at the time but knew we’d go through some kind of journey, which we did.

“Then I quickly realised that there’s so many people out there who want to sing but for whatever reason won’t go and join a choir or won’t join a theatre company or get vocal coaching, so we are that place for them.

“But also, there’s lots of people in the neurodivergent community, lots of people in the LGBTQ+ community we have in our members. Pretty much all our members are in that community because it’s a safe space and they’ve never had that before to do something they love. So that is essentially what we have accidentally created.”

Fully Funded Sessions in Thornaby

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery, The Rise Up Project hosts free weekly sessions.

Sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday in Thornaby at the Family Hub, giving people the opportunity to join and experience the benefits of singing.

The singing group is fully funded, so there is no cost to group members to attend.

Founder Chris said: “Everyone loves it, absolutely loves it, it’s really good and it’s free of course.

“So, if anyone wants to come and just sing whether they can sing or not, make new friends, feel good, help their mental health, that’s something that’s available. They can come to Tuesday or Thursday groups in Thornaby at the family hub.”

Sessions are open to all, regardless of singing experience, and provide local residents opportunity to join a group of supportive people aiming to improve their confidence and mental health through singing.

You can find out more information about The Rise Up Project's sessions on their website.

Listen to the full interview below.