Fatboy Slim Helps Sussex Residents Find Healing Through Power Of Music
- Dominic Kureen
- Oct 7, 2025
- 1 min read
Music legend Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) is helping transform lives across Sussex — not with a chart-topping hit, but through an inspirational series of DJ and rap workshops designed for people living with severe mental illness.
The Fatboy Slim DJ Workshop Programme, launched by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and its charity Heads On, has already delivered 30 sessions in the past year — giving participants the chance to mix tracks, perform live, and discover new confidence through music.
Led by Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist Natalie Rowlands, and supported by a generous donation from Norman Cook himself, the workshops have reached people aged 23 to 58 living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other complex mental health conditions.
The first year wrapped up with Sound Minds, a live performance night at Rockwater Hove, where 13 participants took to the stage alongside Fatboy Slim and rapper Gramski — celebrating creativity, recovery, and connection through sound.
Fatboy Slim said:
“Watching participants discover the joy of mixing music and expressing themselves creatively has been truly inspiring.
"Music has always played a vital role in my own mental health journey — it’s a privilege to share that healing power with others.”
Thanks to the programme’s success, the workshops will continue for another year, helping break down barriers and reduce stigma around mental illness through the power of rhythm, creativity, and community.
Find out more about the project and how to get involved at headsoncharity.org.
Music’s ability to heal really came through here, especially the way community and shared sound helped people reconnect with themselves. I feel that same power every time I practice guitar, because learning music isn’t only about technique, it’s also about emotional balance. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been paying more attention to quality guidance from experienced music teachers and structured guitar lessons. Having access to online guitar lessons makes it easier to stay consistent, reflect, and grow musically, even during stressful periods. Jazz guitar, in particular, teaches listening, expression, and presence — all things that clearly matter when music becomes a tool for healing and connection.