Ben Buddy Slack, founder and creative director of The Swan Song Project, has won a Creative Impact Award at the 2026 Hello Hope Awards, recognising the difference that creativity can make to people’s lives. Hello Hope is an organisation dedicated to suicide prevention.
“HelloHope believes that hope saves lives. Because of this, the Hope Awards reflect that mission in action. They celebrate the people and groups who turn care into support and compassion into change.”
Ben was delighted to recieve the award for “Creative Impact” in recognition of his work at The Swan Song Project.
For Ben, the idea behind the charity came from a very personal experience.
“The Swan Song Project started after I lost my Grandma and realised how much I wished I’d written a song with her before she died. I knew how much it would have meant to me and my family to have something like that to look back on, and I wanted to help other people create those same kinds of memories.
“Since then, we’ve worked with hundreds of people and families, helping them create songs at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives. Every song is different, because every person and every story is different. What always strikes me is how much these songs mean to the people who create them, and how they become something families can hold onto for years to come.
“I’m really proud to receive this award. It’s a lovely recognition of the work our team does and the difference that music and creativity in general can make. I hope it also helps more people discover The Swan Song Project and understand that you don’t need to be musical or have any songwriting experience to create a Swan Song. You just need a story to tell, someone you love, or something you’d like to say.”
The award is a wonderful milestone for The Swan Song Project and everyone who has helped make its work possible, from the talented songwriting team to the supporters, partners, and families who have trusted the charity with their stories.
At its heart, the charity believes that everyone has a song worth sharing, and that music can help us celebrate lives, make memories, and leave lasting legacies.
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