The Young Roots programme of the Heritage Lottery Fund provided funds for young people from the Highfields neighbourhood to make a DVD about the history of their area. To carry out the project, Soft Touch worked with a group based at Moat Community College.

The young people examined how the people and culture of Highfields has changed in the recent past and how the neighbourhood might be in the future. They traced their own families’ journeys around the world using recollections from their grandparents, parents and their own memories to find out how they all ended up in Highfields. Using a video camera they captured places of cultural and historical interest in the neighbourhood. The finished DVD was installed in the community gallery of Newarke Houses Museum.

This music project was delivered on St Matthews estate during 2006, in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Centre. They asked us to run a project which would bring together young people of different backgrounds using music to explore identity, increase self-confidence, develop awareness of cultural diversity and raise aspirations. The project enabled a group of young people from the estate to co-operate, form friendships and develop their creative potential, as well as express and communicate their hopes for the future.

"The music project brought together young people who had never interacted together before. It has helped to address some of the tensions in the area and to build community cohesion. Young people were given the opportunity to express their personal and cultural pride in a productive, co-operative and positive fashion, showing dedication and commitment to each other". Steve Joseph, Youth Worker