First steps into music

Initially funded for 2 years (2022-2023) by Youth Music UK's 'Trailblazer fund', 'First Steps into Music' saw us deliver FREE weekly music sessions to 0-4 year olds and their adult, in 4 community centres across areas of social housing in Heywood.  The project was a major success, with a huge waiting list and families attending reported big lifts in their child's confidence, language development and social skills - as well as strong bonds being created between parents and family members.

 

At the end of the first 2 years, Youth Music funded us for a further 3 years (2024-2026) through their 'Catalyzer Fund', to extend the project to other areas in the Rochdale Borough, and to create deeper partnerships with other cultural organisations.  We now have weekly sessions in 10 locations per week, with over 750 families in areas of social housing having registered for the service since we began.  Families who might otherwise be unable to afford music tuition.

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We've built strong relationships with Touchstones Gallery, The Bridgewater Hall, Cartwheel Arts and with many community hubs and libraries within the area. All contributing to our community having a stronger understanding of the local and wider cultural landscape.

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At the end of each term we hold an event we call 'Listen UP' in each of the areas we teach.  The purpose of the event is to listen to what our participants have to say about the project and to give us feedback on what's going really well, as well as what they think we can improve.  We provide a lovely breakfast for families and a workshop with one of our cultural partners, as a celebration of another term of music-making!