What We Do.
Let us tell you about the ripple effect ...
... it underpins absolutely everything that we do.
We make ripples of change in micro-communities:
We use music to create meaningful, ongoing relationships that last. Our direct reach in grassroots communities is intentionally small because we choose to fill gaps in provision.
The ripple effect grows through our national impact:
We deliver presentations, training, commissions and model best practice. We support and inspire the development of inclusive, wellbeing focused spaces inside other organisations.
“It was the first time I have ever seen my child relax, it was priceless”
Parent, Musical Beacons.
“… a pool of exceptional knowledge that has helped to shape our approach to inclusive practice. The Soundcastle approach to community music-making is essentially an art form”. Bristol Music Trust.
We can be found working in two places...
in the heart of grassroots
music making:
![MUSICAL BEACONS LOGO copy(1) [transparent]](https://soundcastle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/MUSICAL-BEACONS-LOGO-copy1-transparent-pk9bt78e3w7ce5tenaxhv9p3sia2048teyv7c1zta8.png "MUSICAL BEACONS LOGO copy(1) [transparent]"){kind=tracking}
and in arts sector
support:
Each programme is another opportunity for communities thrive and practitioners to grow.
Each is a road to increased confidence, reduced isolation and enhanced well-being.
Explore them now:
All our work is underpinned by a decade of working in grassroots communities.
Click to dive deeper into our theory of practice behind everything that we do:
Musical Beacons supports family and community connections, enabling leadership skills to flourish in children and encouraging creativity in everyone.
Musical Beacons is specifically designed to reach families who may have less access than others to creative activities by partnering with housing associations, children’s centres or care settings.
The Musical Beacons programme operates in multiple sites across the South East: London (Waltham Forest) and Sussex (Newhaven, Eastbourne & Hastings).
Contact one of the regional directors to talk more about Musical Beacons:
Every programme is co-produced with mental health practitioners as well as the community members who form the band, ensuring that we work as one collective voice. Members are offered training in music facilitation skills and if they wish, take it in turns to lead the group through musical creation processes.
Through recordings and public performances, we tackle the stigma of mental ill health and celebrate the diversity, strength and creativity of our community.
People’s Music celebrates the creativity, resilience and voice of people who have a mental health diagnosis.
We use collaborative music-making to strengthen mental health recovery and reduce social isolation during challenging times. Our community members work together to build trust, playfulness and creativity, leading to the creation of brand new music.
Exploring improvisation is at the root of what we do and enables us to welcome anyone to join the band from experienced musicians to those discovering music-making for the first time.
Contact one of the regional directors to talk more about People’s Music:
The Soundcastle Community is an online network of community practitioners, who initially came together virtually to offer support and solidarity to one another, during lockdown. We ran regular activities, training and community cuppas to offer places that people could meet, learn and create.
Now that so many of us are back in the room and there is less activity online, we’ve been re-thinking how to best use this brilliant resource.
So! It is now the home for Soundcastle’s training programmes and courses, in particular, Sparking Change. Our bursary programme for young musicians and facilitators seeking a career in community arts.
This project is backed by Youth Music, thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England.
We warmly welcome up to 8 trainees each year, offering them creative skills training, hosted co-working, Mental Health First Aid training and one to one mentoring with industry professionals.
Sparking Change runs from October – March each year and we are delighted to then see the attendees move into other creative and professional opportunities.
“Through the Sparking Change programme, the Soundcastle team have managed to create such a welcoming and supportive space for us to learn and share within. The programme has allowed me to express myself and my creativity and connect with other young musicians on an open and vulnerable level.” Lila, Attendee 2022.
Contact Rachael to talk more about Sparking Change and The Soundcastle Community:
Mental Health First Aid training
Within Soundcastle we pride ourselves on looking after the wellbeing of everyone that we work with, so that our staff and freelancers can make the biggest impact possible out in the community.
We now share this knowledge and offer online and in person Mental Health First Aid training for individuals and in-house courses for organisations. See our training page for more information
Within Soundcastle we pride ourselves on looking after the wellbeing of everyone that we work with, so that our staff and freelancers can make the biggest impact possible out in the community.
We now share this knowledge and offer online and in person Mental Health First Aid training for individuals and in-house courses for organisations.
Previous clients include:
Contact Hannah to talk more:
Hannah
Mental Health First Aid Trainer