Month: October 2024

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blog Featured Projects MAES

BEHIND THE SCENES: MUSIC COURSE (FUNDED BY MAES)

We had a blast at our recent Music Course, funded by MAES. The two week programme was filled with songwriting, music production, and radio workshops. Meanwhile, to close the project, all the songs our participants created were showcased on a live radio show on Reform Radio.

It was about time we delved deeper into what our attendees got up to, so meet Theo, one of our participants who told us more about their musical inspirations and where they’re heading next.

Please can you introduce yourself, your pronouns and what you get up to in your free time?

Hey, I’m Theo and my pronouns are they/them. I like exploring abandoned places around Manchester and photographing them on my camera.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

I’m curious, inquisitive and adventurous.

If you were stuck on a desert island with a record player, what record would you want to have with you to listen to? 

It would be ‘Jubilee’ by Japanese Breakfast.

Did you have much musical experience before you joined the course? If so, what’s your favourite thing about making music?

It was all very new. I had taken piano lessons as a kid when I was 6 and then did nothing musical. My favourite thing about music now has been being exposed to different genres of music. Also, I’ve liked seeing the different processes individuals have undertaken. It’s been great to see how my course-mates have developed their ideas. Furthermore, I have learnt the basics of chord progressions; I feel so empowered by that.

What prompted you to get involved with the Music Course?

I discovered the course on Instagram and I just thought I’d give it a go. I was a bit afraid of giving music a try but I’m glad I did.

Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed? 

I didn’t think I could write music. Now, I know I actually can if I’m encouraged and guided through it. Additionally, I thought I couldn’t sing but Alex, the facilitator, gave me all the confidence in delivering two lines of singing within my spoken word piece.

What will you take from the Music course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards? 

Experimenting and arranging new tracks is something I want to keep doing, alongside collaborating with more people. The musical process can be so solitary sometimes so you forget that you can let go of agency when you work with other people.

Who would be your dream artist/producer to collaborate with? 

I love how Aldous Harding writes so it would have to be her.

Categories
Opportunity Volunteering Opportunity

VOLUNTEER MUSIC INDUSTRY SUPPORT – KEY CHANGES POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH MUSIC

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated volunteer with a keen interest in the music industry and a talent for promotion to help develop support for our music and mental health charity.

What difference will you make?

Music can play a valuable role in recovery from mental illness. It can stimulate emotional and aesthetic responses, develop creative, technical, social, and vocational skills, improve expression, communication, confidence and self-esteem, and facilitate positive changes in behaviour and wellbeing. Our innovative approach draws on clinical therapeutic techniques and music industry practice using creative collaboration and culturally relevant music activities and genres. We aim to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing through reducing symptoms and relapse rates and creating new life opportunities. Founded in 2003 by patients at Highgate Mental Health Centre in North London in response to a lack of music on the wards, we’ve grown from a weekly music workshop in the hospital OT department into a charity that provides music programmes across London and regionally for young people and adults struggling with mental health challenges. Music mentoring programmes in hospitals and community Volunteering, peer mentoring & work experience opportunities Record label for musicians with lived experience of mental health Concerts & Open Mic’s in healthcare and community setting Our services are co-produced with participants and delivered by specially trained professional musicians, producers, artists, and industry experts in partnership with local health, care, cultural and creative organisations. We now offer programmes in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Brighton, supporting over 5,000 people each year.

Deadline to apply – DATE, link here

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Job Opportunity Opportunity Training Opportunity

VARIOUS ROLES & COURSES – EMPLOY GM

Employ GM is here to help you find local jobs, search for courses and support to help you on your employment journey.

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Opportunity Training Opportunity

SPARK – NORTHERN SOUL

Northern Soul presents SPARK, a ten-month leadership development
programme for 15 participants aged 18-25 living in the North of England
(North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber), funded by the Virgin Money Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund.

SPARK is aimed at inspiring and empowering young Northerners to be the change they want to see in the world. The programme is designed to support participants to unlock their potential and develop the confidence, leadership and entrepreneurial skills needed to create positive change and mobilise their communities.

SPARK will bring together a diverse cohort of individuals from across the North who share the values, determination and vision to build a more compassionate, connected, fair and hopeful UK. Participants will receive masterclasses from industry experts, social innovators and young changemakers to gain insight into how to create sustainable change in their own lives and their wider community.

The programme will support participants to develop a sense of agency as they work towards exploring their own ideas they can develop into real world projects that motivate, inspire and empower them. Each participant
will receive 1-2-1 coaching from our partners at Results CIC and Rivers Coaching Ltd to support their personal development. Participants will
also receive a £800 honorarium for their time, commitment and engagement with the programme.

SPARK will culminate in a showcase Celebration Event where participants can reflect on their development throughout the programme, new knowledge, skills and experience gained and share their plans for
next steps going forward.

SPARK, a ten-month leadership development programme for 15 participants aged 18-25 living in the North of England
(North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber), funded by the Virgin Money Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Categories
Opportunity Training Opportunity

MUSIC FOR WELLBEING – CONTACT MCR

Across October, Contact is offering a series of four, free-to-access Music for Wellbeing Sessions, specifically aimed at artists, freelancers and facilitators between the ages of 18 and 30.

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Opportunity Training Opportunity

Prince’s Trust – Courses

The King’s Trust one-week programmes that are taking place in November for NEET young people in Greater Manchester! These programmes will help to gain confidence, skills, make connections and understand more about the industry!

The Prince’s Trust and Elba Hope Foundation ‘Creative Futures’ project has launched with its first programme ‘Get Started in DJing’ in proud partnership running the programme with Reform Radio!

Ages: 16-25

Taster Day: 30th Oct

Programme Date: 4th November

Location: Manchester City Centre

Next, is our Get Ready with Careers in Civil Aviation!

Ages: 16 – 30

Taster Day: 11th Nov

Programme Date: 18th November

Location: Ancoats, Manchester

Please send referral name and contact details to emily.sollis@princes-trust.org.uk

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blog Featured on Homepage

RAISE THE BAR: GREENFINGUZ

Our Raise The Bar sessions returned on Jorgy & Cheech’s Show. It was a joy to welcome multifaceted creative and artist GreenFinguz into the studio. Not only did he join our hosting duo for a good old chat, but we were also treated some live entertainment on air. The Manchester MC, producer, poet, playwright and actor, came through and shared his truth. His bars were unmatched and his storytelling qualities were a treat to us all.

Catch the full live session on YouTube below.

You can find GreenFinguz on Bandcamp here.

Categories
Podcasts

We Lead For Legacy

We Lead For Legacy is a high level leadership programme for committed leaders from minoritised communities, aiming to tackle the underrepresentation of these groups in civic and public life. 

Commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham, the programme is designed to offer participants first-hand knowledge of public appointees’ roles and responsibilities, offering insight into the systems and procedures of public bodies. It aims to build awareness, confidence and skills to enable participation in civic and community roles, and bring unique voices and lived experiences to the forefront. 

This podcast documents the powerful speakers and mentors on the programme, as well as a range of participant voices and feedback to ensure the pathways provided for leaders to develop are commemorated.

Produced by Aisha Williams.

A Reform Radio production. 

LISTEN TO SERIES HERE

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blog Featured on Homepage MAES

BEHIND THE SCENES: DJ SESSIONS (FUNDED BY MAES)

We invited another round of participants into Reform Radio for our ever-growing DJ Sessions, funded by MAES. Our attendees were led through the likes of beat-matching, blending and mixing. By the end of the project, they were ready to take to the decks and play at a celebratory showcase, sharing all they’d learnt. We caught up with Erika, one of our newly-trained DJs, to find out more about what they got up to across the two weeks.

Introduce your name, pronouns, and what you enjoy in your free time.

My name’s Erika (she/her), and I’m currently working on improving my DJing skills. I’m usually doing something arts and crafty; lately I’ve been into crocheting and reforming clothes.

DJ Sessions participant, Erika.

What prompted you to get involved with the DJ Course?

I actually took part in the Soundcamp Bootcamp earlier this year and was recommended to take the DJ course as it’s another pathway into the music scene. Most of the music I create is electronic, so it makes sense for me to take on these skills.

What do you love most about DJing?

It’s interesting seeing what elements mix well with each other when I’m blending different tracks together and the vibe that can come from it.

Did you have much experience in DJing before? What’s one stand out thing you’ve learnt at Reform?

This was my first time properly being behind decks. I’ve only played around with DJing a few years before but this was my first time seriously doing it. At Reform, I didn’t only learnt the ins and outs of the craft but also how to market and promote myself as a DJ. I also learnt how to put together a deck and what equipment to use which is handy.

How would you describe a DJ set of yours in three words?

I would say it’s a mix of experimental, harsh (in a good way!) and colourful.

Do you have any role models in the music scene that inspire your DJing practice and why?

KAYTRANADA is the reason I got into producing and I usually watch or listen to his sets because I love the range he uses in them.

Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed? 

I was so nervous that I was considering not attending the course as this felt like a completely new world to me. But ultimately, I’m so happy I decided to face it head-on. Now, I feel really welcomed and at ease with the people running the course and the people I took it with.

What will you take from the DJ course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards? 

I’m taking on a new perspective on the music scene. I’m ready to go full steam ahead with DJing and plan on doing more gigs and putting myself out there. I plan on booking more gigs in the new year and releasing music soon as well.

If you could DJ at any festival, event, or place in the world, where would it be and why?

I’d want to try an underground rave at one point. It feels a lot more intimate and vibey as opposed to a festival, I’d love to curate the mood for an event like that.

If you’d like to find out how you can get involved in our future projects, get in touch with our Engagement team on projects@reformradio.co.uk.

Categories
Opportunity Training Opportunity Volunteering Opportunity

Poetry Club and Art Club – Y2 Cafe

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Job Opportunity Opportunity

Cultural Bridge – Funding for Social Arts Organisations

Cultural Bridge supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop partnerships that explore social arts practice.

By enabling new and existing connections, the programme supports a growing network of organisations committed to sharing expertise and skills, exchanging ideas and collaborating on artistic practices and projects that explore themes and issues faced by communities across both countries.

The 2025 – 2026 Cultural Bridge programme application portal will be open from Tuesday 15th October to Tuesday 26th November 2024.

To be eligible, applicants must: 

  • Be an organisation based in the UK or Germany (see guidance for further definition of ‘organisation’
  • Be able to demonstrate expertise in social arts practice working with communities 

Cultural Bridge is open to all artforms and will prioritise support for: 

  • Smaller arts & cultural organisations who don’t already receive significant or sustained funding 
  • Organisations who empower local communities through their creative work
  • Organisations whose work aligns with our programme aims and place themes
  • Organisations who foster equity, diversity and inclusion through their leadership and practice
Categories
Opportunity Training Opportunity Volunteering Opportunity

Music Drop – Contact Theatre

Music Drop is Contact’s open access music service designed to empower the next generation of musicians.

Contact’s state of the art Media Lounge is equipped with iMacs with Logic Pro and Ableton Live, synthesizers, guitars, basses, pianos, electronic drums, drum machines and a vocal booth.

These facilities along with their friendly, knowledgeable music facilitators can help you achieve your creative ambitions – be that learning song-writing, production and recording skills or learning a new instrument.

Music Drop sessions are supported by industry professionals and experienced music facilitators. These facilitators will be rotating every few months, giving participants the opportunity to work with a range of artists and a variety of different music styles.

Book in and get involved!

Categories
Job Opportunity Opportunity

Various Roles – Chetham’s School of Music

Chetham’s School of Music are hiring for a number roles, including a Housekeeping Assistant, Event Staff, Front Of House and Events Operations Manager and a Duty Manager.

Click the link above or here for further information on all roles and details on how to apply.