SoundXchange was a two-year music making programme for hard to reach young people funded through Youth Music. There were two elements – running drop-ins at Soft Touch and working with partners to increase their capacity to offer music making activities.
The sessions at Soft Touch were very popular with young people who were at risk of engagement in crime. They were able to produce their own tracks and perform at showcase events. We have built on this success in subsequent music projects, for example we organise regular showcases and club nights called Urban Vibes.
Partners such as YMCA Aylestone and the Contact Project were able to expand the activities they could offer to hard to reach young people through music making.”I come to Soft Touch because my dreams are all about music and I would like to pursue my dreams. To me music is therapeutic and instead of being on the streets and committing deviant crimes and getting high we can spend our time on making music and expressing our true feelings”.
