MUSIC, PERFORMANCE & DANCE
Music has become one of the core activities of the company over the past two years. With support from the National Foundation for Youth Music we have established a reputation for working with socially excluded young people, using music making as a tool to enhance self-esteem and confidence as well as unlock new musical talent and develop young people's skills in a range of contemporary music genres and styles. Many of our current projects are based around using music technology, but we also offer a range of projects using instruments, singing, percussion, etc.
Leicester Youth Offending Service were awarded a grant from Youth Music to get Soft Touch in to deliver a two-year project, Holding It Down.
The project worked with young people who were on the RAP programme, which provides resettlement provision to young people in the criminal justice system who have, or have had, a significant substance misuse problem linked to their offending. Alongside substance misuse there are often other problems with mental health, accommodation, family issues and unemployment.
The project enabled young people to work towards an accredited Arts Award and to set up a traineeship for a young person to become a "peer educator" on the project. It engaged young people in doing positive and enjoyable activities as a way of supporting them to move on from offending. Participants created their wown music and lyrics and performed at showcase events. The value of working with young offenders in this way was been recognized by the city’s Cultural Strategy Group, which will hopefully lead to future support for similar future partnership working.
"Soft Touch is a great facility. It helps me learn new skills in music and graphic design. All the staff are very helpful and treat us with respect".
The RAP Team focuses on motivating young people to engage in positive leisure activities alongside re-building their lives. Initially Soft Touch provided some taster art and music sessions. These were received favourably by the young people and led to a longer-term project, Holding it Down. A Youth Music grant enabled us to extend the project over two years, which provided opportunities for young people to achieve a recognised Arts Award and set up a traineeship for a young person to become a 'peer educator' on the project.
"Soft Touch and the RAP team have built a good working relationship, which has enabled everyone to benefit from the collaboration. Recently, myself and Chris from Soft Touch gave a presentation to the Cultural Strategy Group, which will hopefully encourage further positive partnerships such as ours!"
Louise Cassie, RAP Project Co-ordinator, Leicester City Youth Offending Service
