Gh0$t took part in a vocal looping workshop with performer and musician Keisha Thompson. Photo KoLAB Studios / Khali Ackford

Making Tracks is a life-changing music making project, delivered by Trinity and partners ACE and Basement Studios. The project supports young people to take their next steps in education or work through accessing music provision.

Gh0$t, aka Jack, joined Making Tracks when he was 23 - finding out about the programme through a suggestion by Access Creative College. The college have worked with Trinity for a number of years, often referring students who may benefit from an alternative education setting.

“Jack’s journey has had its challenges, but his passion for music and the support Trinity provided throughout this time has helped to keep him focussed and motivated. Jack has showed a consistent level of dedication and has seen the confidence in his own abilities and talent develop exponentially.” Dave Thomas, Youth Activities Manager

All young people who take part in Making Tracks have individual learning plan. This is created through conversations with students, highlighting what they may want to achieve and input from tutors, identifying key areas of development.

Jack showed an interest in developing his skills in writing original lyrics, rap and learning more about recording his own songs. He developed his music skills in regular 1-2-1 sessions and attended workshops and opportunities offered throughout the programme. This included workshops with touring artists Keisha Thompson, Making Tracks Summer Music Sessions, Q&A sessions with industry professionals and music events. Gh0$t also was active in promoting his own music made during his sessions on social media.

The final part of Jacks development was the opportunity to work as a youth mentor on an Anti-Knife Crime project. Organised by Avon and Somerset Police and delivered in partnership with local schools, Jack supported students to create a soundtrack for an animation. Jack was completely dedicated to the process taking part not only as lyric writer and performing artist but also as a consultant, offering musical advice to the students in the project.

“My main motivation … stems from my past. It actually drove me to write and work on this project because I felt I could relate to what these young people go through on a daily basis, but I also wanted to portray the message that you can still make a difference and become something that no one believed you could be.” Gh0$t

Since completing the programme, Jack is working on building his youth work CV and accessing further courses and youth work qualifications - proving his commitment to continue his professional journey.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders Youth Sector Support Fund.

Since graduating from Southampton University in 2017 with a 1st in BA Music, Making Tracks Tutor Bethany has been a working professional multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and the creative director/song-writer of her own artistic project, STANLÆY.

"I like to teach practical music making, and experimentation"

Bethany is an avid producer, producing and recording nearly all of her own music and videos, and is keen to inspire other young women to get into producing their own music. She has toured the UK with her band, and played festivals such as Glastonbury, Boomtown, and Shambala.

Her latest solo EP has recently been featured on BBC radio 6. She is currently working on her next new full length album. Bethany has been working professionally as a teacher since graduating, at schools, with trinity, and as a private tutor (she also teaches piano, viola, violin, guitar, harp and vocals.)

She is an advocate of young people finding their own voice (be it vocally, instrumentally or in musical production) and offers an informed but creative space for young people to explore this in.

My name is Imoleayo and I live in Bristol. Before I started the Youth Music sessions at Trinity I wasn't doing very much, I was doing okay at school and doing some music sessions in a group - but not really learning very much.

I came here to get guidance and help so that by the time I get back to school I wouldn’t be lost. I would know what I’m doing, so yeah, Trinity really helped out.

My Mum found out about Trinity by searching online and we though that Trinity's courses would suit me the best, they are local and the people seemed really nice.

When I first came I was really shy, so my Mum came along and I just forgot she was there. I got totally involved in the session and it was like heaven. My confidence has grown and now I am like; ‘okay, if I can do it through music then I must be able to do it through just speaking to someone or meeting new people’.

Since being at Trinity I joined the BFI Film Academy and made a documentary! I've also been on Ujima, the communtiy radio based in Bristol, have gained work experience with a few companies and I am studying for my A Levels.

Hype's mission is to use dance and movement to help young people excel. The award winning urban dance company for 5yrs- young adult, runs weekly all year round (apart from the six-week summer) holiday and runs an open door policy so new dancers can join any time.

Class times:

• 6pm - 7pm 5yrs-11yrs (primary school age)
• 7pm - 8pm Teen/young Adults classes-(For 12+)

Cost:

• £8 pay as you go weekly. Classes can be paid on the door via card/contactless payment or exact cash each week .

Further information

• New starters can start on any Wednesday as its new routines each week at our open for all classes so there is no need for a trail class.
• First session is half price classes are 'closed classes' which means parents are unable to sit and watch as it is more comfortable for the students to progress and be themselves.

Follow Hype Dance Company

• Instagram
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• Email
  
  

Igloo - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

This May Half Term, we’ve got an exciting programme of activities and events for children and young people of all ages to get involved with at Trinity.

Wednesday 29 May - Friday 31 May – Speak Out

Our Speak Out workshops continue on Monday, offering young people aged 16-18 free workshops and the chance to create a performance piece with the guidance of Kabbo Ferdinand – an African Indigenousness storyteller and musician, and Natasha Gatward an immersive performance artist and eco-conscious costume designer.

Wednesday 29 May – Music Masterclass: Hodge

Music Masterclasses are back on Wednesday 29th May. This month, young people aged 16-25 are invited to a free production workshop with Bristol-based DJ and Producer Hodge, who will share their approach to producing which involves finding sounds, processing them, and creating loops and ultimately overcoming writer's block while finding methods to create music in an organised way.

Thursday 30 May – Next-Gen Sounds

Next-Gen Sounds continues as normal during the half-term, with young people aged 14-25 invited to Trinity to take part in group drop in music making sessions led by Trinity and Off The Record.

Friday 31 May – Stay and Play

Children aged 0-5 & their families are invited to Trinity to play, learn and have fun together in our Friday Stay and Play sessions, delivered in partnership with the Health Visiting team. Come along to play, sing, share stories and enjoy the beautiful gardens.

Sunday 02 June – The Fairy Forest

Head to Trinity on Sunday to explore a forgotten woodland world, filled with fairies, forest sprites and mystical beings in ‘The Fairy Forest’ a new children’s theatre show from Tidal Tales, suitable for ages 3 and up.

Click here to learn more about our programme of activities for children, young people and families.

The hand-crafted guitar built by young people who attend Novalis Trust, a Stroud-based learning academy

Young people from Novalis Trust have generously donated a handmade guitar to Trinity's music-making program. This guitar was created as part of the Workbench Project, an initiative delivered in partnership with Pi Guitars.

"We are honoured to donate this guitar to Trinity Community Arts. May it inspire creativity, foster community, and bring the joy of music to all who play it. Thank you for the incredible work you do in Bristol, nurturing the arts and empowering individuals." - James Mountjoy, Novalis Trust

The guitar will be available for young people who attend music making sessions at Trinity to access and play as part of 1-2-1 sessions or the weekly drop in music-making sessions Next Gen Sounds.

The Workbench Project involves young people at the Stroud-based college, who visited Trinity last week to present the guitar to the Music Team. In addition to the donation, the young people enjoyed a tour of Trinity's facilities, including the Recording Studio and the Live Room. Novalis Trust is a Stroud based charity who operate multiple residential facilities in aid of people with learning difficulties from the age of 7 all the way up to 65.

James Mountjoy - a Senior Occupational Therapist from Novalis - said that the group wanted to donate their guitar to Trinity as they love the work we do with Young People in the Creative Arts, reaching so many people to bring them opportunities to explore their creativity, much like the work done at Novalis and Pi Guitars.

Click here to find out more about Trinity's programme of events and activities for Children, Young People and Families.

Speak Out Celebration 2023. Credit Alastair Brookes

Speak Out is a programme of free creative courses exploring ways in which creativity can be used to shine a light on Future Proofing (or, thinking about our impact on the planet), Neurodiversity and Injustice.

Delivered in partnership with City of Bristol College, Bristol Refugee Festival and Our Second Home, from Feb - June 2024 Trinity will host a series of workshops delivered by a professional artist or facilitator. The sessions will offer a supportive young people to develop creative and craft skills, be inspired by new ideas and build interpersonal and collaborative skills.

The programme was developed following an in-depth consultation with over 150 young people that took place in 2023. This included Trinity's CYP team visiting further education settings, schools, community organisations as well as an in-person event at Trinity.

Speak Out Programme:

Future Proofing – Students of City of Bristol College will explore their impact on the planet. Led by Carene, a sustainable fashion expert, the cohort will explore ways in which they can fight against fast fashion. Running Feb - Mar 2024

Neurodiversity - Kabbo Ferdinand, an African Indigenous storyteller and musician, and Natasha Gatward, an immersive performance artist and costume designer, invite 16 – 18 year olds to explore the ways in which movement and expression can explore Neurodiversity. Running April 2024.

Injustice – Hip-Hop artist Moyah, who has lived experience of the asylum system, will lead workshops for young people affected by the asylum system in order to create a performance piece addressing injustice. Running April 2024.

Speak Out Showcase: Young people who have taken part in Speak Out are invited to come together in celebration of their work at a showcase event at Trinity Centre. Each groups’ practitioners will be at the showcase to support the young people and to guide them through the experience of publicly sharing their art (17th June 6-8pm).

If you would like to sign up to the workshops please contact Liam, Youth Services Facilitator on liamc@trinitybristol.org.uk

Speak Out! Is supported by the We Move Fund: Youth Social Action aims to empower Black children and young people through Youth Social Action.

Movema Easter workshop at Trinity. Photo credit Alastair Brooks

Due to high demand, applications are now closed

Trinity Community Arts are offering free supermarket vouchers worth up to £150 to help with the cost of living.

The vouchers are available to anyone aged 18 and over who meets one or more of the following criteria

• lives within a 0.5 mile radius of the centre
• takes part in regular community activity at the centre, including Gentle Dance, ROTN and Hype Dance
• takes part in youth activity at the centre, including Next Gen, Stay and Play and after school clubs
• is a parent/carer of a child in local schools including Hannah More, Easton CE Academy, St Nicholas of Tolentine Primary School, Evergreen Primary school and Central Bristol Children's Centre

The voucher scheme will run in May and June 2023 and is supported by The Society of Merchant Venturers,

Forest School in Trinity's Community Garden

As part of our commitment to creating opportunities for children and families to connect with nature and learn through play we deliver regular free-to-access Forest School sessions in our Community Garden, funded by Children in Need.

“Thank you so much, we have loved coming here. We enjoy having a space to run around in as we do not have a garden at home. It is important for the children to have a space to run around in and spend time outside. They love digging and watering”. Parent of child attending Forest School

The sessions are aimed at children who attend local primary schools as well as families who are signposted through our partnerships with community organisations and outdoor play providers. The sessions provide a much-needed outdoor space for children, many of whom do not have access to outdoor spaces or gardens at home. So far 357 children, families and carers have taken part in the provision since Sep 2021.

Our work with children focuses on improving confidence and well-being through nature based-education. Children work in small groups, led by experienced facilitators, take part in activities such as campfire cooking, lighting fires and organic gardening.

Many children who come to the sessions may struggle to engage with mainstream education, due to the impact of Lockdown or an additional educational need. 97% of the children who have attended Forest School have shown increased confidence in outdoor spaces and many have shown significant progress in their confidence and team working skills. For example one child presented initially as disruptive and disengaged however, following regular attendance they became an active and engaged participant working successfully with peers.

Due to the success of the project we are able to extend Forest School sessions and will continue working with schools and partners to continue to offer this much-needed provision. This includes our free Summer Holiday provision.

Batu checks out the new equipment in the studio. Photo credit Batu

Trinity are pleased to be welcome First Light Studio as new residents. Founded by Bristol based DJ and Producer Batu, who is best known for Timedance, his bass-driven and hypnotic dance nights that have been a key player in the scene over the last seven years.

First Light Studio will take residency in Trinity's recording studio and will offer workshops and free studio hire to Bristol's music-making communities.

“So many people have helped me along the way and I've received a huge amount of support from the community around me. Privately renting a studio is an expense that is prohibitive for a lot of up and coming artists, and there should be more access for free.” Batu

With the support of Dr. Martens the studio at Trinity has undergone a make-over - providing an open and inclusive space for artists to develop their skills - removing financial barriers many face in accessing professional studios.

The studio is a stepping stone into the music industry allowing producers to create, refine and experiment with the pro-level kit they need to enhance their ideas into fully fledged professional productions.

The investment by First Light Studio and Dr. Martens will mean that young people who access our music-making programme, Making Tracks, will also have access to the new equipment.

First Light Studio is open Mondays and Fridays - click here for more info and to book the studio.

Next Gen Sounds Performance - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

Young people from our free weekly music project, Next Gen Sounds, were invited to perform during Off The Record (OTR)’s exhibition at Trinity. We work in partnership with the OTR team who come along to the weekly Next-Gen sessions as an additional offer for young people.

“It was really great to get the chance to perform live, it’s so much fun, Trinity really give us a lot of chances to perform in front of an audience. It’s really fantastic to be able to play here” - Joe, Next Gen Sounds Participant

On the night, young people from Next Gen Sounds took to the stage for one hour. Giving incredible musical performances, from bands playing covers of much-loved songs by Fleetwood Mac and Radiohead, to acoustic solo performances, rap, and DJ sets, demonstrating the wide range of musical styles that the young people are exploring as part of Next Gen.

OTR’s exhibition featured paintings, drawings, photography, poetry and of course music from Next Gen. Our Next Gen Sounds sessions are supported by staff from OTR who bring their expertise around mental health and wellbeing to the group sessions, ensuring that the support offered by the programme focuses not only on young people’s musical abilities, but also provides a safe space for personal support, in which the young people can develop their confidence, interpersonal skills, and support their mental wellbeing.

As part of our Children and Young Peoples' programme we offer ways in which those aged 0-25yrs can take their first and next steps in creativity. Next Gen creates pathways for young people to develop their musical practice; from supporting song writing, to demystifying music production, and music masterclasses to eventually offering the young people a platform to perform their music to a live audience.

If you'd like to find out more about Next Gen Sounds, or get involved with the sessions yourself, click here for more information.

Young people performed at this years Trinity Garden party - you can catch more performances across Bristol this summer. Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Where you can find Making Tracks performances this Summer:

Bristol is always buzzing with Festivals over the Summer so it is great that the Making Tracks partners have teamed up with the three leading festivals to provide opportunities for young people to showcase their talents.

St. Paul's Carnival - Sat July 6th

Youth Music 'Making Tracks' partners ACE have are managing the Unity Stage at this years St Paul's Carnival. St Paul's Carnival is one of Bristol's seminal events attracting a huge crowd across the day. Young people aged 12- 21 will have a 30min slots to perform on the stage presenting an array of talents spanning vocal and DJ sets.

Bristol Pride - Sat 13th July

Making Tracks partners Basement Studios will be managing the 'open mic sessions' at this years Bristol Pride Celebrations on the Downs int dedicated 'youth area'. Expect open mic performances from young people across the day.

Bristol Harbourfest - Sat 20th July, 2pm-3pm, Millennium Square

Trinity Centre are proud to be hosting the Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances stage at this years harbour festival. Harbourfestival is attended by over 300,000 so this is a fantastic opportunity for young people to showcase their talents. Performers on the day include: Miss Tee and Kevin McKechnie.

Good luck to everyone performing!

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Music student plays at the Garden Part at Trinty

Young musicians from Trinity, Basement Studios & Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE@Docklands) set to take the stage at this years St Paul’s Carnival.

Performing on the Unity Stage, hosted by ACE, young musicians will be given a chance to shine in this years Carnival – performing alongside some of Bristol’s most popular artists. On these experience Cherelle Grant, Music Tutor at ACE said, "these talented young people have been working hard each week to create, prepare, and rehearse songs for St Pauls Carnival. Making Tracks has provided a focused environment, with skilled tutors to help them set objectives that will see them elevate their creativity and confidence."

The young people are supported by the Making Tracks project – a two year collaborative project between Trinity, Basement and ACE. Making Tracks offers young people the chance to take part in a wide range of life changing music making activities alongside 121 and group tutoring young people benefit from mentoring, peer learning and joint-project activity.

Catch the performances through out the day at the Unity Stage at St Paul’s Carnival, Bristol Saturday July 8.

Students and professionals take part in a Making Tracks sector sharing day. Making Tracks is a  life changing music making project delivered by us, in partnership with leading youth services providers Basement Studios and ACE. Photo Paul Blakemore

With the DWP's announcement of the Kickstart Scheme, Trinity explores what such jobs might mean for the Creative industries

People from lower socio-economic backgrounds make up just 12% of the workforce in the creative industries, despite being 44% of the UK population and the Creative Industries Federation highlight the inherent inequality within the creative and cultural workforce across almost every protected characteristic.
Covid-19 will mean high unemployment for young people, as well as having profound impact on the cultural and creative industries.Diversifying the creative industries remains high on the agenda with the Creative Industries Federation citing lack of diversity still a persistent failing across the sector.

Possible redundancies may only serve to harm representation through the loss of junior workforce.

At a time when we need to do more to create alternative pathways, the challenge has been compounded by the pandemic with more experienced people willing to volunteer time or remain in lower-paid roles and less job-mobility at senior or executive level.

The announcement of more detail about the Government's Kickstart Scheme in September 2020 offers some hope - with opportunities created for paid employment for unemployed 18-24yr olds.

But it is by no means a magic bullet and must be accompanied by strong youth provision to ensure that those who stand to gain most from such placements are given every opportunity to access and succeed in any roles created.

Though many will know Trinity as one of the most loved and iconic music venues in the city, what many don't know is that Trinity has delivered youth arts training since 2005, providing creative courses for young people, with a focus on working with those Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET), in partnership with Education Unlimited, City of Bristol College, Weston College, as well as Bristol’s wider youth sector.

Personal development through creative expression can be a critical factor in a young person's success.

Since 2018 we have led a Youth Music funded consortia with Basement Studio and Aspiration Creation Elevation working with 250 young people from challenging circumstances annually, giving them a chance to realise their potential through participation in arts and culture, giving access to free music-making which has truly been a life-changing opportunity for those who come through our doors.

Through our a decade of delivery, we are now part of a network of specialist providers who support with referrals, pastoral care and progression. Being part of this network who work to support the needs of NEET young people is a combined effort it is clear that, in most cases, multiple cross-sector agencies are involved in supporting a young person on their journey. The success of Kickstart in really changing the lives of those who need this chance the most rests on the ability to mobilise a cross-sector approach and support employers to help them realise the potential of a diverse young workforce.

Trinity has been part of a number of youth education and employment schemes historically, including The Future Job Fund, cited by NIESR as one of the most successful back-to-work schemes in history. Schemes such as FJF and the Creative Employment Programme have meant that we have been able to provide 33 young people aged 18-24 through with paid-internships since 2009, providing alternative pathways into creative industries.

Though not always perfect, they show us that this investment can provide a critical pathway into the creative workforce - over 1/4 of young people taken on via an internship remained employed at Trinity beyond the grant-funded post, including our Venue Manager Jamell, who started with us in 2010 on a 6mth FJF placement.

Read more about Jamell's story, here.