DuVonne, a former service user at Cygnet Hospital Blackheath, featured in one of the first Music 2 Empower episodes in March 2020. He began by playing keyboards in church and started to write his own music at the age of 14.
Despite his long love of music when he was first approached to do a music video for Music 2 Empower, DuVonne was a bit sceptical: “I though the whole concept of Music 2 Empower was a bit fantastical. I thought why? It took a long time I must admit for the penny to drop that music does actually empower people especially to strive for something and to go beyond what they see in front of them, which is just life on the ward.”
Today DuVonne is an Expert by Experience and music still plays a huge role in his life. He still sings, occasionally writes songs and is in talks about putting a choir together.
In the summer of 2021 William, aka Phenomenal K, recorded and shot a music video for his song ‘All I Need’. At the time William was a service user at Cygnet Hospital Maidstone and the song was inspired by his struggle with mental health problems and his work towards recovery.
William has since been discharged and is living at home in the community. Music 2 Empower has helped reignite William’s career as a musician since discharge. William said, “I’ve started my own YouTube channel and I’m making a go to reach a thousand views and after that it will go upwards and forwards hopefully.”
Raf Hamaizia, Cygnet’s Expert by Experience Lead, has been key to the Music 2 Empower programme. Being able to catch up with DuVonne and William was particularly fulfilling, as Raf explains: “This episode is special as often we hear from people who are currently in services but for the first time we are able to see the impact this important programme has had on people once they have moved on into the community.
“A societal paradigm shift has happened over the years, in which receiving support is far from being seen as ‘the end of the road’ for people, but the start of a new journey based on hope, recovery and ambition. DuVonne and William are testimony to the fact that what we do today to support people in services, sticks with people and makes a massive impact tomorrow in the community.”