“I was anti-Jobcentre, but now I’m pleased with it” (A participant)

“I was anti-Jobcentre, but now I’m pleased with it” (A participant)

Good Vibrations is actively seeking to partner with more Jobcentre Plus branches, across the country, to support their long-term unemployed clients with disabilities and chronic health conditions to become more work-ready. Over the last two years, we have supported 36 men and women in this situation through projects run with Littlehampton, Bexhill, Hastings, Bognor Regis, and Worthing JCPs. We are an Approved Supplier on DWP’s Dynamic Purchasing System for Work-Focused Activities.

“The improvement in confidence is amazing. One guy never talked to anyone, except his wife before, and the way he spoke to the audience was incredible.” (A Work Coach)

Our approach is wonderfully innovative. It helps people: develop confidence; practice working as part of a team; and become more motivated. And the left-field medium we use – a tuned percussion orchestra from Indonesia – is accessible, levelling and playable by complete beginners.

”My new thing since gamelan is to say yes. I have fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalitis, which cause chronic pain and a host of other symptoms. I get anxious travelling further than my local town, experiencing new things and meeting new people. The gamelan course allowed me to overcome my fears. It helped me feel good about my abilities, instead of feeling useless. Since then I plan to do a Reiki course and have re-joined the local library, both of which are enormous steps for me.” (A participant)

But this isn’t really a music project; it’s about team-building and confidence-building. We use music as a way of connecting with people on a deep, meaningful level, and of supporting them to start seeing themselves with more positive self-identities. Then through creative activities, reflective conversations, and the putting on of a concert on the final day, we help participants to develop a range of transferable life and work skills.

“It was a very positive visit, with much evidence shown by participants of distance travelled towards the labour market.” (District Provision Manager)

Read more about some of our projects with long-term unemployed JCP customers here: Supplier Service Offer FactsheetV2.0. And why not get in touch with our Executive Director for a further discussion?

 

Gongs for veterans

Gongs for veterans

When most people think of war veterans, they don’t usually picture them playing South East Asian gongs. But visitors to a project in London last week may have a different view. In October, 16 veterans and their family members came together at Stoll Mansions in Fulham, to make music for a week, using the gamelan orchestra from Indonesia. They played traditional pieces, composed, improvised, and conducted, despite the fact many had never played an instrument before. And on the final day, the group put on a concert.

“I’m in awe of this music, the instruments, how beautiful they are. I feel a reverence towards them because they belong to people from the past.”

This was a project run by national charity, Good Vibrations, in partnership with Stoll, and funded by ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity.

“I suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and I take a lot of tablets and fight to get out of bed. Music for me is part of my life. I rely on it for my daily survival … Then I came down here. I’d heard the music before – I’d been in the Far East as a soldier and I’d always wanted to try it … But I didn’t think I would feel like this because I’ve done so many different things, and I’m like “yeah, yeah, yeah, next ting”, but this thing, can I do some more? That’s how I feel.”

Many UK veterans have faced tougher realities than others could ever imagine – and their experiences from life in the armed service leaves an imprint behind. While Good Vibrations does not claim to heal these wounds or act in place of vital mental health support services, their projects offer a creative space to allow people to self-reflect, interact with others, and explore their own potential for life ahead. And it really works. The testimonies speak for themselves:

“What I loved about it was the companionship … I’m not musical myself but I ended up loving every minute of it. It was a joy. My daughter come to me and she said, ‘Mummy, you must try it, it’s so different – you sort of blossom.’ And it’s true, you do.”

 “It is wonderful to be here. Ok, the old body’s tired, but it didn’t really matter because I got so much from it. We lose a lot, and if we take something positive in, in our stressful day, it helps us.”

“What I liked was that they were non-judgemental. On my first day, in certain pieces I would make bits of mistakes, but John said, “There are no mistakes in gamelan.” And it’s so true.”

Good Vibrations’ is backed by the patronage of retired army officer Lord Ramsbotham, and popular comedian, Bill Bailey, and has been the subject of numerous pieces of academic research since 2006. But the charity needs your help to keep providing this impactful service to vulnerable people. One way you can support is to take part in the Bill Bailey Fundraising Competition. The idea is for members of the public to raise money for Good Vibrations as imaginatively as possible, and entries will be judged in December by a professional panel, including Guardian writer Erwin Jones. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive pairs of tickets to Bill Bailey’s 2018 comedy tour, Bill-Bailey signed certificates, and the knowledge of a fantastic deed done.

Music and movement with young people in Mansfield

In August 2017, Good Vibrations delivered an uplifting and sensory project with Nottinghamshire partners, Inspire Culture and Square Peg. It was a week-long gamelan music and expressive movement course with young people attending Myplace in Mansfield. Supported by The Henry Smith Charity, Youth Music and Inspire, this was a highly successful project.

Watch a short clip of the project in action.

Professor John Morehen, attended the play-through in Mansfield on the Friday, and commented, “I enjoyed it … The participants had clearly had a productive week, and they seemed to get plenty of satisfaction out of the activity.”

 

Good Vibrations at Work in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Good Vibrations at Work in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

On the 19th September, Good Vibrations ran team-building workshops with thirty staff from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at their annual Teaching and Learning Conference. Run by experienced facilitator, Mags Smith, these workshops gave staff the opportunity to bond with their colleagues whilst learning how to improvise on a gamelan orchestra. They also focused on giving participants space to reflect on the group-working and communication skills they were developing through the experience.

The workshops were described as “interesting, open, experimental and fun” and were extremely well-received, with one participant telling us that they learnt “where they see themself in the world, and how they relate to others” through the session.

If you are a business considering booking Good Vibrations in to run a team-building event for your staff, find out more here https://www.good-vibrations.org.uk/what-we-do/corporate-team-building-days/

Become a trustee

Become a trustee

Much of the success of Good Vibrations is down to our incredibly talented and dedicated team of facilitators, staff, trustees and volunteers. And, we are currently on the look out for more individuals to join our Board of Trustees. So if you are wanting an exciting challenge for 2018, if you are wanting to do something with your talents to really make a difference, then why not think about becoming a Good Vibrations trustee?

We are looking to diversify and strengthen our Board. We want a real mix of people with a wide range of skills and experiences to join. Most important is being dedicated, and being passionate about what Good Vibrations does. Being a trustee is about helping Good Vibrations to run smoothly, to deliver its charitable aims, to develop its strategy, and to become an even better organisation. Trustees help us to ensure we are complying with legislation and spending our income wisely and in line with what funders expect. It’s a voluntary role.

Trustees can also use their expertise to help us with bespoke projects. For example, current trustees have supported us to set up a new website, create a Communications Plan, write articles for the Prison Service Journal, streamline project management processes, fundraise, and lots more. We are particularly seeking people with significant experience in fundraising and grant writing, and networking and relationship management with high net-worth individuals.

Our trustees meet four times a year for Board meetings and attend an annual strategic planning day. We also ask them to attend play-throughs (informal concerts at the end of courses) at least once a year, as this is a great way for them to better understand our approach and to get to know the people we work with.

If you think this might be for you, why not give our Executive Director, Katy Haigh a call on 07535 145 797, or email her on katy@good-vibrations.org.uk? And why not find out more about our current trustees at https://www.good-vibrations.org.uk/good-vibrations-team/our-board-and-volunteers/?

Music sessions for well-being

Music sessions for well-being

From August – December 2017, we will be running weekly gamelan sessions at Campbell House in Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow. Taking place on Thursday afternoons, these sessions will enable members of the public to discover the resonant sounds of the gamelan instruments. Our focus will be on participants making choices, building social connections, and developing communication skills.

  • Campbell House, Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow, G12 0XH
  • 24th August – 7th December 2017
  • Fees by donation

To book onto any of the workshops, phone 07535 145 797 or email info@good-vibrations.org.uk

We are grateful to Creative Scotland and The Hugh Fraser Foundation for funding this project.

Play-through at HMP Chelmsford

Play-through at HMP Chelmsford

On the morning of 22nd September 2017, men at HMP Chelmsford will be putting on a gamelan performance, as a culmination of a week’s work, learning to play this orchestra. If you are interested in attending this informal concert, and having an opportunity to speak to the participants about their experience, please contact Jane Gibb.

This project has been made possible thank to funding from the prison itself, Henry Smith Charity and Youth Music.

Bursaries available

Bursaries available

We are offering bursaries to support people who have completed a course with us, to go on and experience other music or arts short courses. These bursaries can cover up to 90% of the cost of the course. To find out more, get in touch with Malcolm Milner.

We have previously provided bursaries, for example, to support people onto intermediate gamelan courses at The Southbank Centre in London.

Supporting army veterans

Supporting army veterans

On the 20th October 2017, army veterans at Stoll House in London, will be putting on a gamelan performance, as the culmination of a week’s work. This is our first project, specifically for ex-service personnel, thanks to funding from ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity and The Henry Smith Charity.

If you are interested in attending this informal concert, and having an opportunity to speak to the participants about their experience, please contact Jane Gibb.

Novel team-building days for corporates

Novel team-building days for corporates

Looking for something completely different for your next work team-building day? Why not book Good Vibrations to run a gamelan workshop with your team? Watch this short film to get a taste of what it’s all about.

“I’ve learned so much about how to work with others,
how to communicate and co-operate.

It’s improved my leadership skills.

Stress release; bond with colleagues.

This has lifted my spirits and inspired me.”

These unique, rewarding, and fun workshops, seriously-boost team morale, and bring people together on a level playing field, breaking down cliques. Communicating and team-working are inherent to the experience, so participants form positive, and strong relationships.

We will tailor the workshop to suit your needs. Why not get in touch to find out more? We’ll ask you more about your requirements, answer any questions you might have, and will give you a quote.

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Photography by Toby Madden/The Independent, Osman Deen/South London Press, Camilla Panufnik, Elspeth Van Der Hole, GDA Design, Gigi Chiying Lam, G. Bland, Alan Bryden, Mark Carlin, Rachel Cherry, Francois Boutemy, Andy Hollingworth, Rebaz Yassin, and Guy Smallman.

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