Nature Beats - Year One Case Studies
Nature Beats has been funded by Youth Music and is being delivered in Coventry from 2015-18. We have completed year one and here are some case studies of how the programme has engaged young people. "The best course to learn and be having a lot of fun with nature and music. I wish the course ran forever." - A, Course 2
Year 1 of Nature Beats has been delivered in Coventry. Here’s a snapshot of how the programme has engaged young people through some case studies.
N recently got out of prison after being convicted of Fire Arms Offence for which he got a 3 year sentence. He said that even now the potential lifestyle and people in his life could lead a person down the wrong road again and yet this course has come just at the right time to allow him to realize that this road was a dead end and that he needed to choose a healthy pathway with long term goals and a lifestyle that did not involve criminal activity. He said, “When I was in counseling inside (in prison), I realised when things changed for me was when I was about 12. It was when I stopped going to cubs and doing stuff outside. I was in the cubs and scouts but couldn’t tell anyone in my area. I had to ride to another area of the city to do this just so others in my area wouldn’t make fun. When I stopped going it was like someone flipped the switch, like a train track flipper to the wrong track and I hung out with the wrong people and ended up in jail. Even with my sentence I was with the wrong crowd that day and even though I didn’t pull the false gun out, I got lumped in with everyone else.”
“When you came and talked to me about the course outside the Job shop and and I said I liked birdcalls, it was like the train track flipper got switched again back on to the right track, it was like the switch got flipped back. Now I am on that right track again in a place I was happiest!”
N became a youth mentor and supported activities at the Godiva festival where he ran the Wild Earth stand talking to young people about the programme.
N planned his next five years including a course at Henley college-Access course to University to do Nursing. He is actively looking for jobs and is hopeful about getting a Night porter job which will allow him to also pursue his studies in the day time.
G didn’t start the programme with mush experience of accessing the outdoors. He said that the experience has helped him feel very peaceful. The job skills sessions have given him the training and confidence to attend interviews. “It really helped me in my interview today. I knew what to expect and felt more at ease where as before, I couldn’t say anything.”
He is passionate about music and makes his own tracks, and his dream job would be become a music production expert. He wants independence of his own and to make money to set up a studio. “I’ve got more respect for life after being on this course.”
He shows real promise musically and has mentored on the indoor job skills music sessions. He has now got a full time job with Amazon.
R and B were siblings who were involved with Course 3 as mentors. They expressed a feeling about feeling lost in there lives when they initially took part in Course 2. Being mentors offered them focus and they both got a lot out of mentoring other young people as it allowed them to see clearly their own potential and already developed attributes. B said, “Originally I just couldn’t see myself mentoing other young people and here I am doing it. I have leant so many new skills and feel a lot more confident.” R said, “It is great being a mentor. You get to have more responsibility and leadership at the same time as participating in all the activities-I liked the job skills, all the music making and feel that it has helped me see how to break down the information I need to focus on to get the job.” They have both secured full time paid apprenticeships with Costa Coffee.