Paul and Joanne Westwood arrived in Coseley three years ago with a vision to improve the lives and welfare of people in the community. With a little support from East Coseley Big Local, they are now turning one of their ideas into a reality and building positive futures for young people in Coseley.
Paul and Joanne started working with groups of young people at a youth club back in 2008. They found that the young people came along to the club because they were a little at a loose end, or for social reasons, a couple were a little introverted, anxious, and found it difficult to mix and communicate.
They decided to start a music group when they arrived in Coseley about 3 years ago, to help young people socialise and play music together. It was at this point that they realised how much young people were communicating over music and the idea behind Music Moves started to grow.
They approached Big Local, Big Local Project Investment Team he primary reason for starting the Music Moves project was to support young people that are affected by bullying, it is a 12-week programme designed to introduce a new way for young people to cope with anxiety, and emotional and physical bullying. Using a referral method through schools, health professionals, police and other agencies, the programme will take them on a journey of positive personal growth and development through the medium of music..
Their base at New Hope Baptist church provides welcoming, vibrant and multi-use space located in the heart of Coseley, perfect location for young people to build their skills.
Music Moves (www.musicmoves.org)
Paul, Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church and musician said, “Hopefully it will be a preventative model for those who struggle with low self-esteem and other mental health issues, and it will give them something they can do away from their usual environment of school.
The Hope Project has successfully received £13,000 to finish equipping the recording studio at the church, and to pay professional musician to run the Music Moves programme.
“The structure of the programme is in three parts. The first 4 sessions we teach the young people to play something within their skill set, the second 4 week period is bringing them together collectively, in a band environment, and the final 4 weeks, we take them into the recording studio to produce a CD or a digital download. This means they will also be introduced to music production.”
Music Moves, is a music based course supporting the emotional well-being of 11-17 year olds.
When they came together in June 2016, members of the Big Local Project Investment Team could feel the energy and enthusiasm Amy and Asher had for their idea. They told Big Local that they were really excited about it, they had been waiting for an opportunity and the timing was perfect. They wanted to use the Coseley Community Centre (previously the Youth Centre) for dance classes as it is a great space.
Before approaching Big Local for some funding to start up. Through the Big Local Project Investment session Amy and Asher heard about the Darkhouse Summer Playscheme and offered to run a dance class with them which would help to promote the newly forming Aace Dance to more children and parents, and help volunteers from Darkhouse to offer a new activity.
The Hope Project has successfully received £13,000 to finish equipping the recording studio at the church, and to pay professional musician to run the Music Moves programme, supported us with an application for funding from East Coseley Big Local, she helped us to see our vision more clearly.”
Paul worked as a full time musician for a while, and started to work with young people at the youth club, “Music Moves really grew out of that idea, all the way back in 2008. I started working with groups of young people that primarily came through the church but other groups as well. These young people were a little at a loose end, others came for social reasons, a couple were a little introverted, anxious, and found it difficult to mix and communicate.”
The Hope Project has successfully received £13,000 to finish equipping the recording studio at the church, and to pay professional musician to run the Music Moves programme.
The Hope Project, presents three very distinct programmes, Music Moves, a music based course supporting the emotional well-being of 11-17 year olds, Living Life to the Full, designed to support people who struggle with anxiety, low mood and depression, and Beauty for Ashes, designed to support survivors of domestic abuse. Each project has been designed to positively impact the wellbeing of people in the Coseley community and surrounding areas.