Mavericks 2 – enabling young people to choose a positive path through music

Maverick (definition) –

Someone who thinks for themselves; who chooses and follows their own path.

The Mavericks album is a project run by Music Fusion. It offers young people facing tough times a safe place to create, explore and make music. The message behind this album is simple; whatever life throws at you, whatever everyone else is doing… You have a choice. If need be, choose your own path. When we have run Mavericks or Words Not Weapons in the past, we have invited a handful of VIP artists to come down and spend the day in the studio with our young people. They get to socialise, write music together, interview them for the documentary webisodes and then record a track. Our young people get to meet their role models and appear on a track with them. This project was extremely fortunate to have eight VIPs come and visit this time. This included Capo Lee, Genesis Elijah, Mic Righteous, Elro, Shay D, Tenchoo, Emerge MC and Mark My Words.

Mavericks 2 has made a huge impact on some of our young people lives, for example:

Assistant Team Manager. BB was open to YOT on a YCC for Theft of a motor vehicle and theft from his sister. He was high risk of reoffending and high safety and wellbeing concerns. He was also referred to Prevent due to concerns of radicalisation. BB was subject to a Child Protection plan along with his younger siblings due to risks that drug dealers placed on him and his family. This young person presented as having Low Mood and although he attended YOT appointments he would not fully engage with YOT or make eye contact. He refused referrals to substance misuse team and CAMHS.

He accepted a referral to Music Fusion and it was the only thing that he wished to engage with. YOT provided him with initial travel warrants to get to Havant, and music fusion staff met him at the train station and escorted him to the venue. As a result of his engagement with Music Fusion and the Mavericks Project, his mood improved. He started to engage in YOT sessions and stopped spending time in Portsmouth where some of the risks he placed himself in were present. Due to his engagement with music fusion (constructive activities) and improvement in family relationships, this young person’s family was taken off the CP plan.

BB’s Mother. “Drugs, drinking & stealing were always on the agenda... Then being beaten up and threatened with a knife... Then stealing cars and running drugs for the big boys... It was a downward spiral for my boy.. The police were involved and then social services.. then YOT... THEN MUSIC FUSION Thank you for giving me my kind beautiful Son back..the boy I knew I had raised! He works hard now as a well respected labourer and loves coming over to music fusion when he can, the turn around is amazing I know most of it was his own work but my god MUSIC FUSION was there at just the right time in my boys life. Thank you for letting him live inside the music you create and letting his bars be his way of coping with life the right way !”

Mavericks 2 - A compilation featuring 45 artists is available now on all streaming platforms

Click here to listen - Mavericks 2 by The Mavericks