Sound Minds is a Battersea-based mental health charity transforming lives through music, film and art. They will be sharing an incredible showcase of music at the Liberty Festival 2025 Opening Party on Wed 24 September.
We spoke to their CEO Chas de Swiet to find out more about the charity and his connection to Liberty Festival.
Sound Minds has been going for over 30 years and has a physical base near Battersea High Street. Chas says: “It's interconnectedness that makes Battersea so special.”
He explains that the other local community organisations and arts venues are some of the great benefits of being based in Wandsworth.
Sound Minds provides creative activities including jam sessions, bands, music production, 1 to 1 instrument lessons but also drama groups, a community choir, visual arts sessions and peer support to those who are in need of help with their mental health and wellbeing.
They also visit patients in wards at Springfield Hospital, and support people post-discharge from hospital.
Chas says: “I think what's important about Sound Minds is that we're user-led
organisation. And we don't do music and art therapy per se, but we do believe passionately that creative activity is good for people's wellbeing and their recovery journey.”
Chas has been connected with Liberty Festival since its inception saying: “I worked on the first ever Liberty Festival, which was back in the early 2000s in Trafalgar Square. I also worked as producer for four Liberty festivals, and I've probably played at another three or four festivals and so it has been very close to my heart.”
He has noticed the changes over the years from a one-afternoon festival in Trafalgar Square, to becoming connected with the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture programme, and branching out to multiple performances over a number of days.
“Come and be surprised,” Chas says, “People should come if they're interested in the arts and creativity. If they want to see something that's new and different, that will open people's eyes a little bit, but at the same time is really good, high-quality art.”
Sound Minds will be part of Liberty Festival 2025 Opening Party on Wednesday 24 September at the Clapham Grand.
Liberty Festival is the Mayor of London’s flagship disability arts festival, platforming some of the most exciting disabled creatives, showcasing bold, innovative work for free that excites, challenges and reframes disability for audiences across the capital and hosted in each London Borough of Culture.