Music participation as an intervention for reducing social isolation in young people with additional needs: Overcoming ‘digital exclusion’

Hello, my name is Benny. I am a co-founder of, and a music practitioner for Beat This, a non-profit inclusive community music service based in Peterborough, Cambs.  I am currently undertaking a post-graduate MA for which I am conducting some primary research around sonic intervention and digital exclusion.

I would be very grateful if you could complete this short(ish) questionnaire which is aimed at practicing community musicians, music leaders and music facilitators who work with young people with additional needs, (i.e. those with special education needs, learning difficulties or with mental health difficulties) in the UK. 

During the pandemic we were very fortunate to have been funded by Youth Music to develop a new project called "Co-Lab" which was a move to adapting our services so that we could continue to support some of the most veulnerable people in our community. Throughout the project we became immediately aware that some young people are either unable to, or not willing to use online tools to make music. 

I hope to gain a wider perspective on the situation regarding music participation throughout the pandemic and how music leaders and participants have responded.

Your input will support my questions around whether the burgeoning epidemic of social isolation and the widely reported side-effect of 'digital exclusion' has affected a). yourselves as practitioners and b.) the young people you support and make music with?

Here is a link to the questionnaire in Google Docs folks - https://forms.gle/jSHWG1eGEV94GaKv5

Thank you so much for your support.

Kindest regards

Benny Turner

Director Beat This CIC Chime Creation Centre Unit A, The Courtyard Norfolk Street Peterborough PE1 2NP

benny@beatthis.org 07513 360 050 www.beatthis.org www.drip-dry.co.uk