Evaluating outcomes
We evaluate the impact of our programmes carefully, tracking the positive outcomes for the artists and young people taking part. We measure what is changing and build on what we learn, so that we can develop and grow our programmes.
OUR 2022 ANNUAL REPORT
Our 10 year anniversary year in 2022 was packed with so many highlights, including: our new Future Sound Records programme taking students into a professional recording studio; launching our schools programme in Manchester for the first time; a collaboration with Spitfire Audio to create a brand new LABS product; a takeover at We Out Here festival; and the incredible 10 year anniversary gig at Church of Sound, a celebration of and tribute to Abram’s life and music.
In our annual report you can read more about what we did to support minoritised young people and musicians to realise their creative potential, through our music education and artist career development programmes.
FUTURE SOUND
Through Future Sound we support young people to find their creativity, as well as build confidence, resilience and the life skills needed for a successful future. They come away with broader horizons, new abilities and knowledge, and an experience which we aim to inspire a lifelong engagement with music and the arts.
Our Future Sound project was awarded the David Bedford Music Education Award by the trustees of the PRS Foundation in 2018.
Meet Kaleel
Kaleel was 15 when he was invited to attend our first ever Future Sound programme. He had spent some time in care and had come to the school as part of a managed move, due to behavioural needs. While he could play an instrument, he wasn’t keen on continuing with music, and his foster parents were worried about him and concerned for his future.
The Future Sound programme Kaleel attended was headed up by KOKOROKO, and the band members worked closely with him to re-engage him in music. He took part in the end-of-project gig at Church of Sound, which his foster mother attended. She was delighted to see him enjoying it and so engaged in the project. His teacher felt that the project gave him the confidence to realise that music was a career that he could do.
Two years later, Kaleel bumped into one the organisers of the Church of Sound gig, Spencer Martin, and told him how much he had enjoyed the project and the gig and how much it had inspired him to go onto study music and the impact it had had on him. He had applied for and been successful in gaining a place on a competitive BTEC in a Music Production course, at the start of his pathway to pursuing a career in music.
Not all young people may be aiming for a career in the music industry like Kaleel. But getting access to music and the arts also helps build lots of key ‘soft’ and life skills that will serve any young person well in any career or social setting.
Musical impact
Future Sound results in improved aural skills and composition skills; plus better understanding of the music industry.
Personal impact
Future Sound helps cement how important music and creativity are as lifelong abilities and healthy coping mechanisms. If a young person can channel life’s struggles into lyric writing (for example) they are building resilience and learning a healthy coping mechanism for current and future challenges. The programme also increases teamwork and communication skills; plus builds self-confidence and wellbeing, resulting in a more positive outlook on life.
Social impact
Future Sound helps improve and build more positive peer networks and relationships. Plus it helps young people become more employable, both in the creative sector but also because they are learning soft skills that are integral to any job or social setting.
“I think the thing I enjoyed the most was playing with professional musicians. I feel like that really broadened my horizons… I can develop myself overall and I’m not limited.” – Future Sound participant
You can read our Future Sound 2022 evaluation report here:
career development programme
We support up-and-coming musicians to understand their vision and develop their strategy to build their own sustainable careers. After personalised coaching, they come away with enhanced skills, confidence and resilience; plus industry networks.
Career impact
Artists that we’ve supported have won or been nominated for awards including: the Mercury Prize, Ivor Novello Award, Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Award, Guardian Album of the Year, Jazz FM Awards, WorldWide FM Awards.
Plus they have signed to labels including Sony Music, Decca, Scenic Route and Brownswood.
WHAT ARTISTS ARE SAYING
“Abram Wilson worked closely with Women in Jazz to develop a new strand of their business: connecting artists and audiences through digital content. We worked closely together to develop a strategic plan which involved designing and building the concept, developing the pitch right through to the execution of filming the content. We couldn’t have got there without you.”
– Lou Paley, Women In Jazz
Personal impact
“The session was so uplifting. One of those ones that sticks to you for life. I really value people putting their personal experience at the forefront and sharing vulnerabilities. Thank you so much for offering such great development opportunities!”
– Sans Soucis, singer, songwriter and producer
“Thanks so much for your help, support and advice. You really helped me focus on the important goals to target and gave me a real boost to go ahead and do that confidently.”
– Emma Johnson, saxophonist and composer
You can read our most recent Career Development Programme evaluation report for the 2020-22 cohort here:
You can see our past evaluation reports for Future Sound and the Career Development Programme here.