October Newsletter

WE ARE SEEKING NEW TRUSTEES

Finding Rhythms is seeking people to join and support our board as trustees or board associates.

We are particularly interested in recruiting people with skills and experience in the following areas:

  • Those who have experience of probation/youth offending, and/or working in the criminal justice system;
  • Those who have practical expert knowledge of mental health treatment of young offenders and others in the community with mental health issues;
  • Prison governors or those currently or recently engaged in the prison estate;
  • Those who have an academic knowledge of both the methods used within the criminal justice system for evaluating interventions, and the methods to collect the data;
  • Those who have had prison experience;
  • Those who know about and value music as a transformative influence.
  • Those experienced in communications, public affairs, fundraising development.

Find out more about the role and details on how to apply here:
finding-rhythms.co.uk/news/we-are-seeking-new-trustees

We are interested in hearing from people that may not have the experience or capacity to be full trustees but are keen to support our work as a board associate.

NEW PROJECTS AT RUGBY PORTOBELLO TRUST, PROJECT TURNOVER, YMCA, HMP AYLESBURY & HMP WOODHILL

Pictured above; Young people work on putting the finishing touches to their tracks at Rugby Portobello Trust’s in-house studio.

This Summer we held projects with young people at Rugby Portobello Trust & Amplify Studios in West London, and at Project Turnover in Staines.
 

“I had a great time making this album with all the participants at RPT. It’s wonderful seeing them grow up to become talented musicians, producers and artists” 
Aron – FR music practitioner on the Rugby Portobello Trust project


We can’t wait to hear the young people perform their tracks live later this month at Rugby Portobello Trust’s open mic night.

Finding Rhythms will return to Project Turnover next month to continue our community youth work.

Pictured above: Young people at Project Turnover writing lyrics alongside our musician Zola

We returned to work with young offenders at HMP Aylesbury. We will be returning there next week for an album listening event to celebrate the participants musical achievements and the completion of their Prince’s Trust qualification. 
 

A super enthusiastic and patient group of men who were happy to explore different genres and topics. They all came with great energy and encouraged each other to do the best they could. I was really happy to have the opportunity to work with them
Dre – FR Music practitioner on the HMP Aylesbury project

We are at the YMCA this month where we are currently working with young people at the YMCA North London & City’s Haringey and Hackney sites. Collectively along with their LandAid House branch, these three sites house around 600 young people with safe and stable accommodation every year, helping young people aged 16-25, who are homeless or in housing need, to achieve the transition to independence.

Pictured above: one of the participants performing at YMCA Crouch End on our current project

We returned to HMP Woodhill for our third project working with young offenders on the NHS Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. You can read more about this here.

“The guys are wonderfully open to experimentation and we’ve made some really interesting tunes. This is our penultimate session and it’s hard to believe it’s all gone by so fast. I’m looking forward to the presentation and listening party when they get to hear the complete project!” 
Thabo – FR music practitioner on the HMP Woodhill project.

We started a new project at HMP Isis, which will be running through to the end of the year. This is our first time back at Isis since before the pandemic. 

We will be heading to HMP Dovegate next month for the first time.

Thabo has worked with Finding Rhythms since 2020. 

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Thabo started singing in church where he and his childhood friends formed an acapella group. After moving to the UK he joined a hip hop soul band and there honed his craft as a songwriter and a performer. Since then he has released 3 solo EP’s, toured with artists like Seal and collaborated on music with Idris Elba and Naughty Boy.

“I understand what it is to be compressed and to need an outlet …. Once someone has been ignited then you just follow that and you let that play out because its the same process as finding the song, you’re looking for the spark, and then once that happens you follow it, you follow that energy and enthusiasm”

Cold Streets & Warm Sheets was produced at Park Royal Hospital, working with offenders with mental health concerns.

Project Leaders: Fred Harper & Thabo Mkwananzi
Released: 18 August 2022

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
LISTEN ON BANDCAMP

Rhythms And Flow Series: Part 3 was produced at Only Connect, a London based charity working to reduce re-offending.

Project Leaders: Tom Hennessy, Andre Hall & Tim Titsworth
Released: 25 August 2022

LISTEN ON BANDCAMP

Being Free was produced at the Horniman Museum, working with young people this Summer.

Project Leaders: Fred Harper & Andre Hall
Released: 14 September 2022

LISTEN ON BANDCAMP