Music hit-maker joins our Creativity Club

A songwriter who has helped some of the music industry’s biggest stars to write hit-songs has enabled people we support to find their voice too, hosting a special musical masterclass as part of the Creativity Club!

Jim Duguid, who has written songs with the likes of Paolo Nutini, Alex Clare, Natalie Imbruglia, Craig David and George Ezra, helped inspire people supported by our charity to follow their own passions and dreams.

With an audience of music lovers and people looking to take their own journey into creativity, his interactive lesson gave participants the tools and confidence to get creative and express themselves through words and music.

Our Creativity Club has been created in partnership with National Museums Scotland for the Year of Stories 2022 Festival. It allows people we support across Scotland to enjoy a range of accessible lessons and interactive expert workshops, including experiences with stars of the Edinburgh Fringe and masterclasses with acclaimed Scottish poets. Inspiring the group to explore Scotland’s places, myths and heroes, and enabling every participant to create their own work, it is promoting self-expression, confidence and friendships. The group are set to perform at a special virtual festival for St Andrew’s Day.

Jim Duguid is a multi-platinum songwriter from Glasgow, whose song are enjoyed by millions of people around the world. After enjoying top-10 success in the band Speedway, he rose to prominence co-writing much of Paolo Nutini’s debut album, These Streets. He went on to co-write the international smash hit ‘Too Close’ with Alex Clare, and has continued to support many leading artists to develop their craft. These songs have had hundreds of millions of streams.

With honours as Songwriter of the Year Award for both the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, as well as the British music industry body BPI, and a Brit Award nomination, Jim was truly an exceptional mentor for the group.

Erin O’Neill, a Creativity Club member from Aberdeen, said: “I love songwriting and music, so it was amazing to meet Jim. He was so encouraging and inspiring, telling us all to follow our dreams. It was amazing to hear how he’d helped to write some songs that I love, like Last Request with Paolo Nutini. I’m so grateful that he shared his time to help us.”

Jim Duguid said, “It was amazing to work with Community Integrated Care and to support their brilliant work.

Creativity is something that is often overlooked but it is part of every day, and important to us all. It helps you develop lots of skills to get through life. I wanted to encourage everyone to sing and write, or to follow their own passions, no matter what their ability.

This experience reminded me of how beautiful music can be and the important role it can play in every life. The Creativity Club was a real proof that music is something that should be enjoyed and that everyone should get the chance to express themselves. It was great to hear that the members left feeling inspired, but they inspired me even more.”

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships at Community Integrated Care, says: “Jim’s masterclass was scheduled to last for forty minutes, but went on for almost an hour and a half – and could have lasted even longer! The Creativity Club members were fascinated by his stories of how and why he writes songs, and truly inspired by his encouragement and support. Jim works with many of the world’s best artists, so for him to share his time and skills to back our work in social care was incredible.

Our thanks go to Jim, for delivering such an impactful workshop, and to National Museums Scotland for enabling us to bring the Year of Stories 2022 into the lives of people who access care and support.”