Impact Report – Community Learning Programme

Creative Community Learning Programme for Adults – a rich programme of music activities for adults that provide pro-social activities, supporting wellbeing and reducing isolation, helping people to connect with others and learn new creative skills.

An extensive programme of learning opportunities and workshops focusing on music making, performance and production. Co-designed by participants and colleagues in the community sector, this programme builds on our experience of working with adult groups that include: Adults with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities; Adults in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction; Adults facing challenges with their Mental Health; Adults with dementia. Through open sessions and focused delivery we will work with community partners to support service users and provide clear referral pathways.

Impact Report – Youth Programme

Engaging and supporting young people – a combination of open access music making, partnership delivery and one to one support, we will provide positive creative music activity to support the wellbeing and progression of young people

A visible, accessible and varied programme of music activity will support young people to take part in regular engaging workshops and mentoring opportunities, working with youth, community and education partners. Activity will be delivered by our experienced music leaders and will include music activity in youth settings, open access sessions in SoCo’s creative spaces, and one to one mentoring for young people referred by children’s services (including young offenders, young carers and children in care). We will be responsive to the young people’s needs, adapting our delivery to be relevant and appropriate.

Impact Report – Early Years

Sustainable Early Years Music (SEYM). Music provision for Early Years children in challenging circumstances and/or with SEN/D. Three core interrelated key areas of activity: collaborative facilitation, knowledge-exchange, analysis/evaluation.

Our work in supporting the needs and development of young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities has developed over 5-6 years. We will expand on this through a music engagement programme for Early Years children with complex needs. This programme will comprise interventions that build confidence and skills of EY practitioners in EY settings and childminders in community based environments, enabling children to thrive. Key partners will include Hampshire Portage Service, Southampton City Council Early Years and Childcare Service, Parent Carer Forum and Childminders.

Impact Report – New Music Development Unit

New Music Development Unit – supporting emerging artists, showcasing new music. We will run a comprehensive talent development programme, working with emerging artists to develop their music and find the progression routes to reach the next level.

Building on our experience over the last 3 years of supporting artists through the Sounds of Southampton albums, we will expand the reach supporting artists from the Solent region, including New Forest, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Gosport. We will work with music industry partners to support a minimum of 20 artists each year, supporting them with industry advice, mentoring and showcase opportunities, releasing a new album – Sounds of the Solent during each year of the programme.

Impact Report – Music Industry Support

Music Industry support – Providing advice, information and networking opportunities to musicians at all career stages in the region. SoCo will employ a dedicated officer providing links/expertise to musicians of all stages and genres in the region.

A new role in the organisation, SoCo’s Music Industry specialist will be tasked with scoping the needs of musicians at any career stage in Southampton and the wider region, providing accessible and visible support, helping artists to find supportive progression, sustain their careers and fulfil their potential in the music industry, especially those who are currently under-represented. They will provide support to the New Music Development Unit, supporting new music, and new ways of reaching new and existing audiences. Through this role we will provide clinics, masterclasses and connection opportunities to support the music ecology in the region.

Impact Report – The CHAOS Network

The CHAOS Network – Supporting Creatives in Southampton. The CHAOS Network will continue to provide space and time for creatives to connect and collaborate, facilitating monthly networking sessions, a digital platform and a peer mentoring programme.

Monthly Networking sessions will provide opportunities for creatives at all levels and career stage to connect. We vary times and days of sessions, rotating between weekday mornings, weekday evenings and weekends, with some sessions online to maximise accessibility. We will continue to produce a monthly newsletter, showcasing creative and cultural activity in the city. Through the NPO programme we will improve the digital offer, developing resources, case studies and linking to other networks across the country. We will further develop the peer mentoring programme, providing an opportunity for creatives to connect on a deeper level.

Impact Report – Arts Leaders

Workforce Development – Arts Leaders. Expanding the Arts Leaders programme, providing a rich learning opportunity for creatives to learn together to gain the skills, confidence and experience needed to develop and lead creative workshops.

A programme of learning that will include vital training to enable creatives of any discipline and career stage to develop skills in workshop facilitation. Alongside training sessions, participants will be offered shadowing opportunities, and be supported to create digital resources. Training sessions will cover subjects including introduction to community arts sector, safeguarding, planning and evaluation, facilitation and trauma informed practice. Sessions will form a range of digital resources and information for aspiring facilitators hosted on the CHAOS Network Website.