Charity music gig

A Lanarkshire charity that supports people’s mental health through music is hosting an exciting night of entertainment this month.

Money raised from tickets as well as raffles on the evening will help Fool On carry out their fantastic work in supporting the wellbeing of hundreds in the community.

The event will be held on Friday, March 25, at Club 100 in Motherwell with talented members set to treat guests to a night of music, comedy and lots more.

And they’ve already secured one of the biggest acts in Lanarkshire as country duo Mick ‘N’ Phil from Hamilton, who also volunteer for the charity, are set to perform on the night.

People’s mental health has become a crucial topic over the past two years due to the strains of the pandemic, but this will be an event to celebrate togetherness and peer support for those struggling in Lanarkshire.

Organising the fundraiser, Stuart Doig of Fool On told the Advertiser: “We’re a mental health support group that meet a number of times a week throughout Lanarkshire.

“The event will help to keep our group running. The participants performing on the night are folk who come to our workshops during the week.

“They have gained confidence through our workshops and are now ending up on stage. This is something always to aim at and is a dream for them.

“It will be myself that’s hosting and it’s great to have Mick ‘N’ Phil performing too.”

Fool On members meet a number of times per week in different locations including Bellshill, Motherwell, Gowkthrapple and Cumbernauld. They are hoping to raise more awareness of what they do and branch out more.

Around 10 volunteers run workshops and teach music to up to 80 locals attending every week.

Stuart explained: “We’re getting people out of isolation and giving them the confidence.

“I myself am an example of someone who had really bad anxiety and selfesteem and now I’m up on stage doing comedy. I just love how the peer support has helped the group.

“It’s really good for folk because you really see them growing.

“They come in shy and withdrawn and before you know it they’re up mixing with people in the group and socialising before going up on stage which we know is a big dream for a lot of people.”

Tickets for the event on March 25 are priced at £5, with all proceeds going towards the running of Fool On.

And for more information or if you would like to get involved with the group, you can contact the group by email at: hello@foolon.co.uk