Frequency Machine is a start-up community organisation that plans to use DJ workshops and music events to improve mental health and wellbeing in Harlow.
The Frequency Machine project will run over a year, offering local DJ workshops where adults, children and young people can learn mixing skills, build confidence and express themselves creatively. Sessions will create a positive, social environment where music is used as a tool for connection, empowerment and stress relief during what the founder describes as an increasingly difficult period for people’s mental health.
The project is aimed at children, young people, families and adults in Harlow, with workshops targeted both individually and collectively. Separate sessions will be delivered for young people and adults, ensuring content and safeguarding are age appropriate. The founder intends to work with local charities, community groups and schools – including Changing Lives, Roots to Wellbeing, Livewire, Rock School and local schools – to reach people who may need extra emotional or social support and could particularly benefit from a structured, creative outlet.
The impact will be improved mental health, confidence and overall wellbeing for everyone who attends the workshops. By offering a constructive, creative activity, the project aims to boost morale, give participants a sense of achievement and foster new social connections in the town. Impact will be measured using feedback forms for all sessions and simple pre and post‑session self‑assessments where participants reflect on their confidence and mental health before and after taking part. Positive changes in these measures will indicate the project is making a difference.