“Young People From The YMCA Release Their Own Charity Album”

Event – Album Launch 27^th January Open Night Club at 3.30pm

A group of YMCA residents and staff have teamed up with youth arts organisation Culture Works East to create a completely original charity album from the cover design to the lyrics and music of all 8 tracks. Launched on 27^th January 2012 “Right Tracks” features everything from rap, rock to R&B and easy listening and will be available as a CD or digital download. All proceeds will go to YMCA Norfolk.

“Right Tracks” has offered a unique opportunity for young people not in employment, education or training to develop skills alongside a real-life project. Over the last 10 weeks the young participants have been responsible for the design, marketing and launch of the album. Working with industry professionals they have found out about what it takes to work in the music industry – including album design, marketing, social media, budgeting and advertising - even making their own radio advert to be aired on Future Radio!

Taking part in master classes, vocational tasters, specially developed training and 1-2-1 business mentoring and setting up their own project management group the young music promoters have been able to build their CV, develop confidence, communication and other skills attractive to employers. They will also gain a Silver Arts Award.

Quote from Tim Sweeting, Chief Executive of YMCA:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with culture works to create our first charity album to promote gifts of our amazing young people who will be using and developing their talent for design, promotion, sound technology and other industry skills as well as expressing their own story through music.”

Quote from Elli Chapman, Director at Culture Works East:

“Right Tracks” is an exciting project that gives participants a unique insight into the music promotion and event management whilst gaining firsthand experience of what it is like to work in the creative industries. They are working alongside inspirational industry experts and tutors to help them develop all the skills required to bring their ideas to life. “Right Tracks” has gives them a chance to get their voices heard in the community, to participate in decision making, showcase their talents, develop life-long skills, improved personal and social skills and explore potential career pathways. Already participants are discussing how they might use their experience in the future including becoming a volunteer at community station Future Radio, using it to gain a place on training courses or going into an apprenticeship.”

Quote from Sonya Dover, member of Right Tracks Production Group: “We have taken a lead role in the promotion, designing, marketing and all organising of the album launch. I have been in charge of doing things like press releases and creating marketing materials. This album is being produced to raise money for the YMCA to help a wide variety of vulnerable young people. The album will be a compilation of songs that should appeal to a wide group of people, from young people to the older generation. The money raised will contribute to homelessness, training, education and making sure that people get back on the right track.

She goes onto say: “It has been produced to raise awareness about the YMCA and how they have helped young people who now want to pay back the favour and help the YMCA with more funds so that they can carry on with helping other vulnerable young people. Most people can relate to music when they are having a hard time and can find that it can help them get back on the right track.”

For more information and to purchase the album go to: www.ymca-norfolk.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

Photo opportunity available at Right Tracks Abum Launch. To attend the private view, interviews, library images or more information please contact:

Elli Chapman 07917 418 560 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Right Tracks course has been made possible by Youth East Works, a regional project led in Norfolk by City College Norwich, funded by European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency. Youth East Works aims to support progression into Apprenticeships - achieved through the provision of a tailor made programme for each participant, supported by a trained mentor.

Culture Works is an exciting youth arts company based in Norwich. For more information on Culture Works please contact Elli Chapman on 01603 626548 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

YMCA Norfolk is an inclusive Christian organisation, transforming communities across Norfolk so that young people truly belong, contribute and thrive.

Listen to the Right Tracks Radio Advert

'Free' by The Solution

Partners:  The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company

About the project:

Founded in 2008 by MOBO award-winning UK artist ‘Akala’ The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company (‘THSC’) is a music theatre production company aimed at exploring the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and that of Hip Hop music. Culture Works are Education Consultants for the company. Elli has worked with the company to create the THSC Learning Model, workforce development programmes and Arts Award models.

The THSC learning model creates a sustainable platform for the development of high-quality new work for new audiences. It aims to engage ‘hard to reach’ young people aged 11-19 through participation and audiences aged 20-35 through live events. THSC Artist Associates: to co-produce/deliver live events and education programmes. They will also receive mentor training developed by Culture Works and have numerous opportunities to develop new innovative creative works. Associate Artists include Ms. Dynamite, Riz Ahmed, Kate Tempest, Dizraeli. THSC Peer Leaders are a rolling team of skilled young creative’s who'll co-produce/deliver live events and education programmes under the mentorship of THSC Artist Associates taking part in a range of training and mentoring opportunities that encourages personal, artistic and professional development.

Culture Works have also created an Arts Award framework using digital media including virtual Arts Award support and access to Advisers no matter where THSC is in the UK.

Impact:

The THSC Learning Model supports THSC Artist Associates to train/mentor THSC Peer Leaders, selected from a pool of talent sourced via their workshops, allowing development of exciting new THSC high-quality live performances, education and progression opportunities at a scale not previously achievable by THSC.

What they thought:

Partner:

“This programme will allow us to progress emerging young artists whilst continually providing high-quality THSC product with lasting legacy, an integral part of our strategy, where not only are our projects sustained/supported but training, mentorship and job opportunities can be offered consistently.” THSC General Manager

Links:

Hip Hop Shakespeare Peer Leader Video

Made by young people as part of Overdrive Music Production Week with Jim Davies

Partners:  The Garage

About the project:

Funded by Youth Music’s Vocalise programme, “Overdrive” aimed to encourage young people aged 13-18 from deprived areas of Norwich and Norfolk to try out vocally based activity including singing, beat boxing and vocal production. The project began with workshops designed to engage young people and build vocal skills,  using a variety of styles -  including activity that particularly encouraged boys to take part.

We worked with young people from Brundall Youth Club,  from a low level secure unit for young people rehabilitating from brain injury and/or mental health , and young people not in education, employment and training.  Music leaders supported participants to develop the skills required to create an end product, including a live music night at youth club and recording of composed piece.

Culture Works delivered this programme in association with The Garage including designing, delivering and evaluating activity, developing relationships with partners and participant recruitment. We also supported the development  of two Music Leader trainees  on the programme. Elli Chapman, Culture Works Director, was also lead Music Leader (Vocal) on the project.

To progress, participants were then offered the opportunity to work alongside musical theatre professionals in “Musical Theatre Mission,” an intensive week long project aimed at exercising and developing an electrifying musical performance.  For 9 to 12 year olds interested in singing, run alongside this  there was “Mini Musical Theatre Mission” where younger participants had the opportunity to take part in pacey workshops full of fun, games and song! Children were recruited through singing tasters delivered by Culture Works project trainees at primary schools across Norwich.

Working as a group young people created an original performance including songs from one of the big west-end shows and piece of musical theatre, rap and beat-box fusion!   

Impact:

The programme aimed to develop vocal and performance skills, as well as personal and social skills.

What they thought:

Parent:

“Just wanted to send a huge thank you to Elli and everyone who helped make last week such a great experience for the girls.  They thoroughly enjoyed it and we thoroughly enjoyed the performance.”

Young Person:

“While on this project I became more confident and singing and not being shy. The staff were WICKED! Very helpful and supportive.”

In Our Gallery:

Watch out for our mega Overdrive video coming soon!

Links:

www.thegarage.org.uk
www.musicleader.net
www.youthmusic.org.uk

Listen to a song by Brad and Page composed as part of a workshop at BBC Blast Hunstanton