Cliff Fluet named new Chair of Music Minds Matter as the charity announces partnership with BBC 6 Music
Cliff will drive fundraising and awareness for Music Minds Matter
Cliff Fluet, partner at Lewis Silkin LLP, has been appointed Chair of Music Minds Matter. Music Minds Matter is the mental health-focused sister charity of Help Musicians, and Cliff will lead the charity’s Board and oversee its strategy, engagement and governance.
Cliff takes over from Silvia Montello, bringing more than 25 years of experience of life within music, as well as a deep understanding of the challenges of a career in the industry.
As well as advising major names in media, entertainment, talent and technology, he also has significant experience in the world of charities in the creative industries. Cliff was former Chair of the Ivors Academy Trust and is current Vice-Chair of Help Musicians.
I’m thrilled to be joining Music Minds Matter at this exciting time. Having observed its evolution from a campaign, to helpline and now to a full-blown charity in my role at Help Musicians, I am excited to work with Sarah, Grace and our amazing Board of Trustees. We have ambitious plans to partner with the entire industry at this time of great need and you’ll be hearing even more from us very soon.
Cliff’s appointment as Music Minds Matter’s chair comes as the charity strives to grow its breadth of mental health support to keep pace with rising need across the music industry. Music Minds Matter’s goals for the year include developing its preventative support, which will help negate potential crises arising for musicians in the future.
Also supporting the charity’s growth is the appointment of Grace Meadows as Head of Music Minds Matter. Grace is the former campaign director at Music for Dementia and also a qualified music therapist. Her passion will drive industry collaboration and help the sector come together to promote positive mental health.
Knowing the scale of need but also the change we want to make across the industry to help make it a beacon for positive mental health, makes this a really exciting time to be joining Music Minds Matter. The partnerships we will be developing will be innovative and impactful and I’m looking forward to working with the industry to bring everyone together to focus on what we can achieve together through collaboration.
Cliff and Grace join at an exciting time for Music Minds Matter as it announces its partnership with BBC 6 Music on the station’s upcoming Change The Tune season. The forthcoming series aims to raise awareness and explore the impact of online abuse on artists’ lives.
Through partnering on the season, BBC 6 Music and Music Minds Matter aim to ensure that musicians and industry professionals alike are aware of the support they can access for their mental wellbeing, notably Music Minds Matter’s phone line which connects callers with an accredited counsellor.
With renewed leadership from Cliff, the support of Grace and through valuable awareness partnerships such as this with BBC 6 Music, we can reach more people working in music and really driving the fundraising needed to support this work.