Music tuition for 70 disadvantaged London children

Without free access to learning music, there is little opportunity for disadvantaged children to engage and benefit from learning a musical instrument. To address this issue, this project provides free music tuition and instruments to 70 disadvantaged and socially isolated young people, aged 5 to 19 years.

Challenge

The level of child poverty in our area is worse than the England average with 22.4% of children in Wandsworth aged under 16 years living in poverty. One in ten children aged 5-16 years, an estimated 3,000 children in Wandsworth, have a mental health problem. Commentators point to the widening socio-economic gap and the seemingly intractable problem of marginalising young people who see no way out of their disadvantage and isolation. These are the problems affecting the young people we work with.

Solution

Research undertaken at the University of Roehampton demonstrates that music education can help children with development, social interaction and language growth. An externally assessed social audit we commissioned found that students that attend World Heart Beat had a substantial negative loss impact. They are twice as likely to enjoy being at school, 20 times less likely to hang around friends who are a bad influence and 1.7 times less likely to be sad or depressed.

Long-Term Impact

Our ethos is grounded in social change. We aim to inspire and motivate disadvantaged young people to reach beyond the limitations their circumstances have placed on them. This project will enable them to develop their leadership potential and pursue sustainable careers in the music industry and the wider creative sector. They will have a safe platform to lift their aspirations and maximise their potential as both musicians and as citizens of the world.