Spotlight on RiteTrax CIC

A Sheffield Soundtrack of Connection and Creativity

"Music can change the world because it can change people." – Bono

There’s something powerful about music—its ability to cut through barriers, to reach where words alone cannot. This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Michael Thompson, Co Director with his good friend Adam Seymour of RiteTrax CIC, a Sheffield-based social enterprise using the universal language of music to empower, uplift, and transform lives.

Walking through the heart of the city, it’s easy to miss the quiet revolutions taking place in its corners. But tucked away, often beneath the radar, are the people shaping the soul of Sheffield. Michael, Adam and their team are doing just that—giving a voice to those who have too often been unheard, offering a platform for creativity to take root, and proving that connection is the true engine of change.

A Stage for All: The RiteTrax Story

Founded with a deep love for underground music and grassroots culture, RiteTrax CIC is more than just a record label or event organiser. It’s a movement—one that weaves together aspiring artists, vulnerable adults, and young people, all through the transformative force of music.

In the last two years alone, RiteTrax has supported over 150 individuals, delivering outreach and in-reach projects that range from DJing and music production to songwriting, MCing, and live performance. At its core, it’s about more than skill-building—it’s about fostering confidence, belonging, and self-expression.

Michael spoke passionately about the raw potential he sees in young people across Sheffield—talent that, all too often, remains locked away due to lack of opportunity, lack of confidence, or simply the feeling of not belonging. "The industry can feel like a closed door if you don’t know the right people," he reflected. "We’re here to change that. To make music accessible. To make creativity a shared space, not an exclusive one."

Breaking Down Barriers

Michael understands what it’s like to feel like an outsider in a space that should welcome all. It’s why RiteTrax actively reaches those who’ve been left behind—young people facing adversity, individuals navigating mental health challenges, and those who simply need a place to be seen and heard.

We talked about the pressures of modern life, the way consumerism and hyper-individualism strip people of the deep connections they crave. Music, in contrast, creates community—it draws people together in shared experience, reminding us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.

Through partnerships with Sheffield City Council, Youth Justice Services, and community organisations like Staying Close and Humankind, RiteTrax is not just teaching skills but building pathways—helping young people realise that their voices matter.

What Can We Learn from RiteTrax?

Michael’s work is a masterclass in what Project Ignite stands for:

• Connection beyond transaction. Music isn’t just a product to be sold—it’s a bridge, a way of communicating what words can’t always hold.

• Creativity as a form of agency. Giving people a platform isn’t just about performance—it’s about giving them the confidence to shape their own narratives.

• Community as the foundation. No one creates alone. Great art, like great change, is always a collective effort.

Michael put it simply: "If you don’t create spaces where people feel safe to experiment, they’ll never realise what they’re capable of."

How You Can Get Involved

The work RiteTrax is doing is too important to go unnoticed. If you believe in the power of music to connect, transform, and inspire, here’s how you can be part of the movement:

• Support their events. Keep an eye out for their showcases, workshops, and community projects.

• Spread the word. Know a young person who would thrive in a creative, supportive space? Introduce them to RiteTrax.

• Get involved. Whether you’re a musician, mentor, or simply someone who believes in connection through creativity, reach out and see how you can contribute.

Final Thoughts: A Soundtrack for Change

Sheffield’s creative spirit has always thrived in the margins—in basements, in repurposed warehouses, in the minds of those willing to dream differently. RiteTrax is the latest chapter in that story—proving that when you give people the right platform, they don’t just step up. They soar.

If you’re inspired by Michael’s work, if you believe in the power of connection through music, let’s keep this conversation going. Talk to your friends about it, share this newsletter, and join us at Love Sheffield in celebrating the people building a more connected, creative city.

Until next time, keep creating, keep connecting, and keep believing in Sheffield’s rhythm.

With warmth and purpose,
Brian Mosley
Founder, Love Sheffield & Project Ignite
Author of "Uniting Hearts, Igniting Change"