Songwriting and digital music to provide inspiration for Banbury youngsters struggling with pandemic education

Charity Community Albums is launching a project that will provide tuition for producing digital music and songwriting.

Known as Upbeat, the initiative, which is jointly funded by Sanctuary Housing and Children in Need, will offer one-to-one and small group learning by taking referrals from local schools and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Upbeat follows on from the success of the Vocal Band community choir established in Bretch Hill, which has been continuing to meet weekly during the pandemic via Zoom.

Charlie Heritage, Sanctuary’s Neighbourhood Partnerships Manager, said: “The choir has been an amazing community resource which has brought people together, forged relationships and given participants new-found confidence.

“We had originally given Community Albums funding to set up a second choir in Banbury but we took the decision together that starting a new group would be too difficult with the current restrictions. Instead, we redirected the funds to assist with extending their provision with Upbeat.”

A spokesperson from Community Albums added: “Life has been very difficult for many young people in recent months. Upbeat aims to boost confidence by giving them access to try new things and express how they are feeling through music. This project will hopefully help them to remain positive in the future too.

“We also hope to create podcasts with the young people involved so we can bring to life the story of the impact the project has had on their lives.”