Reflecting on Sparking Change!

Increase confidence, reduce isolation & enhance wellbeing – reflecting on these outcomes in an online environment.  

At the heart of every Souncastle programme, three outcomes drive our delivery – increase confidence, reduce isolation & enhance wellbeing. We reflect on these outcomes year round through our in-person creative music making programmes within local communities.

But how do our outcomes play out in an online training environment?

I have been reflecting on this following the end of our 23/24 Sparking Change programme – a training and development scheme for early career musicians.

This bursary programme is for young musicians and facilitators seeking a career in community arts. We warmly welcome up to eight trainees each year, offering them creative skills training, hosted co-working, Mental Health First Aid training and one to one mentoring with industry professionals.

Considering my reflection notes, programme evaluation and feedback from this year’s cohort, I’ve taken a closer look at each outcome, let’s dive in!

Increase Confidence

It has reassured me that I am more capable than I give myself credit for.  

During my first mentoring session at the start of the programme with the trainees, (affectionately termed as Sparkies!) it became clear that a lack of confidence was the most common and prevalent theme for all our early career musicians.

An echoing perspective was the feeling that they were not or almost could not be confident as they did not have multiple years of experience like other peers, mentors or idols in the music sector. 

Through the course of the programme, the trainees reflected that they could and now should feel confident about their current contribution to the sector.

During my final mentoring session with them, I felt especially proud of the group as for many, the programme drew up confidence they already had to the surface.

The variety of weekly sessions enabled them to take stock of the skills and experience they were equipped with and comfortably develop and extend their capabilities to strengthen their professional toolkit. 

By the end of the programme, it was brilliant to see that 100% of our capable Sparkies fed back that being part of the programme had increased their confidence in their professional life. 

With a consensus that confidence can continue to be present as their career progresses.  

Reduce Isolation

I have really enjoyed connecting with the other Sparking Change cohort, it has been really lovely to hear other people’s journeys and experiences and sharing this. It has also been amazing to be supported by such a fab team at Soundcastle.

We love a collaborative approach at Soundcastle – benefitting from fresh, diverse perspectives, working together on challenges and sharing peer learning. This is an approach we embed within Sparking Change which supports the outcome of reducing isolation. To meet this outcome in an online environment, we have built the following considerations into the programme:

Consistency – We meet at the same time every Thursday morning, holding a reliable space with a designated Soundcastle office team member being available as a constant presence amongst the hosting facilitators.

Individual support – Everyone has a 1 to 1 online meet before the programme starts to get to know them, answer queries and discuss access requirements. They also receive individual mentoring sessions with two different Soundcastle mentors to explore career development throughout the programme.

Peer sharing – Sparkies are encouraged to be open about sharing their experiences, perspectives, challenges and achievements in all sessions. Co-working mornings are especially valuable to exercise group support and seek peer advice. 

The above framework helps our trainees to feel individually valued whilst enabling the group as a whole to build trust, champion and support one another. Alongside the practical benefits of the training, many fed back that meeting and connecting with one another on the programme was a key highlight!

Enhance Wellbeing

I always left the sessions with a smile on my face! …  It was nice to have the sessions in the morning then I felt energised and ready for the rest of my day!   

This final outcome is really at the core of the programme and is integral to achieving the other outcomes.

We know that many people are currently dealing with mental health and wellbeing challenges and this is an area in which we at Soundcastle are especially driven to support change, equally through our programme delivery and within the culture of the Soundcastle team. 

As reported in the first ever UK Musicians’ Census from Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union (Nov, 2023) – mental wellbeing is a key issue in music.

They found that three in ten musicians report having low mental wellbeing – with those at the start of their career most impacted.

This finding demonstrates why opportunities and environments like Sparking Change are essential to support the next generation of musicians and we are delighted that Sparking Change fits within our wider sector support. 

Every Soundcastle team member on Sparking Change is a Mental Health First Aider and consideration is taken to ensure our trainees are wholly supported by accessible, professional, emotional and mental considerations throughout the programme.

We see ourselves as a friendly supportive bunch with a genuine interest in others which is conducive in creating a welcoming online space.

Ends

Sparking Change offers support with all aspects of being a freelance workshop leader – from workshop skills, planning, working relationships, administration and looking after your own wellbeing. You are welcomed into an open and supportive community where you can share questions, knowledge and experiences.

Being involved with the 23/24 cohort on Sparking Change has been a highlight of my time working with Soundcastle so far and on reflection, the outcomes – increase confidence, reduce isolation and enhance wellbeing were also realised through my own participation on this programme.

I felt continually inspired and proud of our fantastic Sparkies and I can’t wait to see how they progress to flourish in this sector!