London,
14
August
2017
|
15:17
Europe/London

£90k grant for music programme helping young offenders resettle into the community and rebuild their lives

A London organisation supporting young offenders to settle back into the community through a creative learning programme has received a huge cash boost.

The City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, has given HMDT Music a £90,000 grant for its music programme supporting young offenders.

The grant will go towards funding One Spirit - a music project which develops the life skills and education of young people in custody.

The educational music programme reduces reoffending rates by giving young offenders the confidence and skills needed to settle back into the community. The scheme gives young offenders personal mentors after they have been released, and 89% of the youngsters who have taken part have not reoffended within a year of release. 61% are in employment and 47% are in higher or further education.

HMDT uses art projects to help with learning, increase skills and raise aspirations. The organisationtransforms the lives of young people and their communities in areas of significant disadvantage and deprivation. The City Bridge Trust funding will benefit young people in Hackney, Lambeth, Southwark, Haringey, Brent and other London boroughs.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust committee, said:

“This unique programme follows young people throughout their time in custody and upon release, offers continuing structured and one-to-one support.

“The success rate of One Sprit is extremely high, showing how effective this project is to young people in and around Hackney and Enfield and how it really is changing lives.

“We are committed to tackling disadvantage across the capital and making London a fairer and better place to live.”

Tertia Sefton-Green, Creative Director at HMDT Music, added:

“This funding helps us to expand the reach of One Spirit and assist more young people in using the arts to rehabilitate, transform and turn around their lives. 

“It will help us to make a big impact on the confidence, behaviour and futures of young men and prepare and support them upon release into the community.”

City Bridge Trust is London’s largest independent grant giver, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital. The Trust has awarded around 7,600 grants totalling over £360 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

ENDS

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884 / 020 7332 1125