Street to Studio

For the last two years, we have supported Youth Connect South West to deliver Street to Studio. The project has garnered a positive reputation with the Crime Reduction units of Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire Police Forces for being a 'significant intervention for young people at risk of offending' and due to its popularity, has a waiting list.

Our trainees spend up to 6 months working in small groups to learn about music production whilst gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Training is customised to their needs and aspirations but often involves recording a demo, producing sound and singing. Trainees develop industry knowledge, production skills, and competence with industry-standard software and hardware. Finally, all trainees undergo an exit interview and their experiences and feedback ensure Street to Studio continuously improves. The lead trainer often keeps in touch which has led to past trainees which helps their progress as well as influencing the development of the programme and sharing their stories to inspire others.

Young people can disengage from education for many reasons; a lack of support for neurodiversity, ASD, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, substance misuse, addiction or as a result of anti-social behaviour. The negative impact of disengagement can carry through to adulthood and employment prospects. Street to Studio aims to transform trainees' passion for music into a brighter future by encouraging their creativity and building valuable and transferrable skills. Our trainers create a safe place for young people to explore their creativity and channel their love of music into a productive experience. The trainees gain an outlet for stress (music can decrease cortisol), improve fine motor skills, experiment with creativity and build transferable skills such as time and project management skills. Street to Studio also provides a much-needed boost to self-confidence and can be a critical turning point in trainees' mental health and wellbeing. In addition to the powerful personal impacts of this work, our projects strengthen the community by reducing anti-social behaviour, crime and substance abuse.

Trainees can self-refer or be recommended by their parents or carers, Social Services, local schools, and further education colleges such as Bath College. We also work with police forces such as the Avon and Somerset Police and the Gloucestershire Constabulary. Young people are also referred by charities such as Project 28, providing drug and alcohol services in Bath & North East Somerset and Off the Record, a youth counselling service.