The future of a Lewisham charity which provides music lessons to deprived young people has been secured through a funding grant.
The Lewisham Music Project (LMP) was the recipient of funding bestowed by the Garfield Weston Foundation.
Their director of community projects, Ania Wróblewska, claimed the charity was incredibly lucky to receive the funding.
Wróblewska said: “This grant means a lot to us, as many foundations are currently moving funding away from London.
“It means we can focus on what’s next and it ensures that young people can access the programmes that we deliver free of charge, which is really essential in Bellingham, where one in four young people currently live in poverty.
“The topic of finances can often be quite embarrassing for families, so to be able to offer our programmes free of charge is very important to us.”
With the stated vision of bringing the power of music to every child and young person in Lewisham, the charity works in more than 60 schools across the borough, as well as at its Bellingham headquarters.
Delivering up to 62 hours of teaching a week, they offer a diverse range of music programmes, whether instrumental, vocal, or production.
The Garfield Weston Foundation invests £100 million annually in almost 3,000 projects across the country.
The grant will cover all the charity’s costs for running its programmes for the next two years.
Wróblewska added: “We work with lots of young people who are very much enriched by the sessions that we deliver.
“For many of them, our programmes might be the only creative outlet outside of school, so it’s a way for them to connect with their peers and like-minded young people.
“It really helps them with their everyday struggles and their mental health.”
The funds will also directly support the development of Radio Lewisham, LMP’s recently formed youth-led radio station, and Front Line, Young Minds, a podcast that serves as a free space for young people to discuss music and their mental health.
Identifying mental health as a growing issue amongst young people across Lewisham, the charity sees music as a transformative force in enhancing emotional wellbeing.
This is particularly pertinent in one of their standout projects, Sonic Minds, a programme that uses creative expression as an ingenious form of mental coping strategy.
The programme teaches young people to express themselves through collaborative songwriting and music production.
Previously reserved for those in care and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, the charity is now broadening access to the program for all young people at risk of mental health issues in the borough.
Featured image credit: Keith Sykes
Join the discussion