In our work we address inequality, injustice, financial and social barriers and lack of provision, skills and opportunities within the educational sector – all of which prevent children and young people with multiple and complex disabilities and special needs from accessing music making that is vital and, in many cases, transformational to their development. Our students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are extremely vulnerable and isolated. Our projects are based in London, the Midlands and North of England. We work with over 1200 direct beneficiaries each year on weekly basis during term time. On average, each individual is involved over four to six years, some for 10 years and more.
Our programmes currently comprise:- Running choirs weekly in 10 special needs schools in Birmingham, Warwickshire and Cambridge.- Weekly classroom music sessions and 1:1 instrumental lessons in 6 schools for Deaf children in 5 London Boroughs and Hertfordshire- Individual music lessons in London, Birmingham and Liverpool for over 100 students- Performing opportunities in conjunction with our partner organisations- Work experience opportunities for young musicians with disabilities- Training for musicians in working with children with special needs (including project at the Royal College of Music, starting the 2nd year course)
Our charity has been delivering expert music services to some of the most disadvantaged children with complex needs and disabilities since 2003. Over the years, through ongoing weekly work in special schools and provision of individual lessons, through consultation with experts, teachers at schools, parents and students, through feedback and evaluation, we have been constantly evolving, and our programmes are uniquely tailored and fully accessible to every student we work with, whatever end of the ability spectrum they are at. Our most recent evaluation round demonstrates outstanding levels of engagement in students who are within most hard-to-engage groups, including pre-verbal children and those with challenging behaviours.
Community-based music can transform the lives of children with disabilities but only if there is regular engagement, due the complexity of their health conditions and disabilities. So we work with children over several years to build incremental impacts and support them with enhanced vital skills as they become adults. The long-term nature of our activities makes us unique in terms of the depth and quality of our work providing a deeply impactful experience for our young people and the positive ripple effect can be seen both in their education and in their communities.
When we start a new choir at a special needs school, many of the children find it difficult to engage, but, as the sessions progress and become part of their weekly routine, their engagement increases. Some children who would not be ready to make a sound in response to the leader at the start of term may be volunteering to sing a solo by the end. Pre-verbal children who have very limited ability to communicate are given tools and encouraged to participate as much as they can using assistive technology, sign language and/or simple choice solutions.
Our weekly sessions are fully inclusive, being open to every student irrespective of the level of their access needs. Most children find routine and predictability very soothing and reassuring, and children with complex mental and physical disabilities, especially those who are neurodivergent, are no exception. The sessions bring together the whole school for an hour of joy and fun and are often the one thing our children look forward to. Staff comment frequently on how the school atmosphere is better on their Music of Life days, describing the very special “buzz” we bring with us!
Working consistently with our partner schools, we develop very close relationships with staff who attend the sessions with their students, and in some cases learn to use our approaches in their own classes.
