Drew Jensen, a Camden musician coping with mental illness is celebrating being honoured with an ‘EPIC’ award for giving his time and musical talents to help improve the quality of life of other people experiencing mental health issues.

Drew Jensen (37) came top in the ‘Exceptional contribution to the arts and culture’ category of the EPIC awards that recognise exceptional people in Camden. The awards event was on 29th November 2006.

Since starting an organisation called Upbeat four years ago, Drew Jensen has been a force for positive change in Camden. In his own words the Upbeat initiative, “aims to develop the musical talent and creativity of individuals experiencing mental health issues”. 

Through the use of musical activities, social interaction and exciting performance opportunities, Drew provides people living with mental health issues an improved quality of life and support with recovery. Lately, Upbeat has expanded to include musical development workshops as well as providing rehearsal space for bands, dancers and other performers.

Drew, who is himself a local Mental Health Service User; conceived the idea of a volunteering project in Camden promoting mental well-being through music and performance. Mr Jensen felt that due to his health issues, London’s music scene was too 'volatile' to enable him to present his music through the usual channels, so he sought help from Camden's various Mental Health organisations. Eventually, New Directions Camden (NDC) provided his band; Reedell with free rehearsal space and helped him set up gigs within the Mental Health community.

Despite his own illness, Mr Jensen, managed to source other volunteer performers in Camden who were experiencing mental health issues and to set up a steering group.

The campaign was given a boost earlier this year after receiving a grant from Capital Volunteering, which is backed by the UK’s largest volunteering charity, CSV and the London Development Centre.
This has enabled the project to expand rapidly to include a Palestinian dance group, an African performance group, workshops in harmonica, and percussion, several full music bands and even its own choir.  The different groups are in demand and play regularly throughout London and further a-field.

Mr Jensen is a singer-songwriter and musician. The Drew Jensen Band perform regularly and are hoping to find funding to record their first album soon, with the aim of securing a record deal.
Upbeat is expanding fast. For more information or to book a group for your event please call Lucia on 078 6077 8133 or email: project24eight@yahoo.co.uk

Further press information: Jason Tanner, CSV on 020 7812 0038 or Lucia Way, Upbeat on 078 6077 8133

Note for editors

1. Capital Volunteering projects support people who are isolated due to their illness and whose confidence, self-esteem and social networks are undermined due to their experiences of mental ill-health. Projects also help mental health service users re-gain entry into employment. Capital Volunteering is backed by CSV and the London Development Centre. It received £7.3 million from the Treasury’s Invest to Save budget (ISB).

2. The EPICs were announced on November 29th 2006.