What Researchers say

"I come from a background in Forensic Psychology, where my focus has been primarily on Offending Behaviour Programmes and other accredited courses. I was asked to be involved in an evaluation of the Good Vibrations Gamelan in Prisons Project by a colleague, and have to admit that I came to the research as a sceptic. However, seeing the impact that completing this project has on offenders has opened my eyes to the value of work like this. The project had real value in improving the attitudes and behaviour of those who take part."

"(Good Vibrations) presented an opportunity for participants to reflect upon their lives without the potentially intimidating context of formal 'therapy'."

"At other times, the Gamelan music produced by the participants carried meaning for them that they could not verbalise, or perhaps did not consciously recognise. One participant reported to the group how she felt the music spoke to her soul and calmed her in a way she could not describe. Other participants expressed similar sentiments - that they had experienced a sensation of peace and connection that they could not do justice to through verbal description."

"Coming from lives often characterised by abuse, oppression, or lack of opportunity, an experience where each individual's opinions were valued had great therapeutic potential."

"Increasingly, towards the end of the week, group members spontaneously and independently controlled their own behaviour, without needing prompts from the more focussed group members."

"The (project) provided motivation for the development of a respectful and focussed group environment, but also for the development of skills with which to achieve this."

"The manner in which the course was delivered may have helped to prepare vulnerable participants for more formal therapy by developing their sense of empowerment, their communication and interpersonal skills, and their willingness to make themselves vulnerable in front of a group of peers."

"In many ways, the workshop increased women's interest in many things (including the music perse), and their willingness to participate in other courses and activities."

"Good Vibrations gets prisoners into the education department, many of whom would never have considered enrolling on 'basic maths or English', and as such, for many of those who participate, the project acts as a gateway to other learning."

"(Good Vibrations) encourages prisoners who have been isolated to develop social and group skills, and in doing so has the ability to also facilitate changes to thinking and behaviour."

"That (Good Vibrations) also facilitated the prison's achievement of a Key Performance Target is significant, especially as it would seem to have been achieved at a financial cost that was lower than would have been the case had more traditional educational courses been purchased by the prison."

"It is quite clear that the project can play a major role in empowering prisoners to take their first steps towards stopping committing crime."