OUR STORIES
Finding His Voice – How Callum carved out a space for his own creative world
When Hamish and Callum first met, it was obvious that Callum had a keen interest in singing. On the surface Callum was a outgoing teenager with a remarkable voice, but between the cracks, there was an ever present glimmer of a deeper struggle. A struggle well hidden....
Case study: Foundation House
For four years now, we've been working with young disabled musicians at Foundation House, one of the supported living units of National Star College, the county’s flagship support centre that enables young disabled people in all aspects of living and learning. In the...
Jasmine’s creativity and confidence bloom
Jasmine took part in our Music Minds teenage mental health programme. She's featured in this video singing the song she wrote, accompanied by musicians from Gloucestershire Academy of Music. Her headteacher tells Jasmine's story: "Jasmine's confidence and self-esteem...
Songwriting and recording are the best therapy says Harley
Harley struggles with anxiety and lack of confidence as a result of early childhood experiences. She lives in foster care, and has found it hard to fit in at school and make friends. She was referred to our Music Minds programme, for one-to-one music mentoring. Music...
Bethanie learns to trust and builds her confidence and songwriting skills
Bethanie had experienced many years of very challenging medical issues when she was referred to our Music Minds teenage mental health programme. As a result, she had very low mood and confidence, and there was a concern this may escalate due to her isolation and...
Beth aka ‘Grove’ gets a start in the music industry
Beth, aka ‘Grove’ is a 20-year old vocalist from Gloucestershire who’s part of our Upsurge artist development programme. She thought she was destined to work in ‘dead-end jobs’ until someone gave her a ‘big break’. All that’s changed since she became involved with...
Jenny finds a new way of coping with mental health problems, through music
Video: This song was created and performed by two young women, who took part in our Music Minds programme in 2016. Jenny, aged 13, was in the 'top five' of students with challenging behaviour in her school. She would regularly argue with staff, and disrupt and...
Richard feels accepted and grows in confidence
Like many young people we work with, Richard (not his real name), a student in year 10, had always struggled with school. He didn’t fit in, had extremely low confidence, and had been bullied. Coming to the afterschool club at SoundSpace Studios, Cinderford, has transformed his attitude to himself, and his wellbeing.
Hip Hop and gaming helps Tom discover an identity beyond anger
Tom had been referred to us by a local service for people with mental health problems. He was suffering from anger problems, was often violent, and had very few friends. He had lost interest in life and was a loner, spending his time gaming on his computer and listening to old-school hip-hop.
Robin returns: afterschool club student is now our studio manager
Robin Jones, our manager at SoundSpace Studios (based at The Forest High School, Cinderford), was featured in the local press last month ..
Charlie learns she can achieve and cope
Charlie was a 13-year old who’d been excluded from school and had been attending a Pupil Referral Unit. She had learned extreme tactics for avoiding learning …
Nina finds self-belief and a renewed interest in learning
Nina, 16, had become depressed and wasn’t coping with school in or out of lessons: “I couldn’t concentrate in lessons, school doesn’t suit me …
LATEST NEWS
Job Opportunity: Major Gifts Fundraiser
Major gifts fundraiser Part time or consultancy role (approximately 5-10 days a month) £40,000 - 50,000 per annum pro rata About The Music Works and why we need this role The Music Works is an award-winning Gloucestershire charity that transforms young lives through...
“Music is for everyone, and anyone who lets music into their life has so much to gain from it.”
The Music Works' Creative Director, Malaki Patterson, talks music, life learning and awards... "Music has always been a big love of mine – it wasn’t just about the music industry at large, but I’ve always had a burning desire to make music. Growing up in...
The Music Works wins prestigious Queen’s Award for ‘outstanding achievement’
We are honoured today to receive The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for promoting opportunity through social mobility! The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the highest official UK awards for British businesses and are awarded for outstanding achievement in the...