Remapping non-formal music provision and social need in London
Sound Connections published its first ‘Mapping non-formal music provision and social need in London’ report in October 2012 and, in doing so, introduced new ways of thinking about ‘cold spots’ (defined then as areas of low provision and high social need) in music provision and funding. The report was well received and prompted people involved in music activities with children and young people to plan and deliver work differently.
In 2017, we commissioned Lawrence Becko to review and renew the methodology, and present an up-to-date picture. The resulting report revisits the idea of cold spots mapping and casts a light on provision and funding from 2015-2017 through data from the National Foundation for Youth Music, Arts Council England and the London Music Fund.
Whilst the method has evolved, the purpose of the work is the same: its intention is to enable people involved in making music with children and young people to understand and reflect upon need, and to build socially engaged practice and policy. We hope this report will support needs analysis and instigate more ‘needs-based’ thinking.