The Music Works, a Gloucester-based charity that is helping young people to develop confidence and self-worth by engaging them through music, has been selected as one of the Bishops’ charities which will benefit from our episcopal collections this year.
The episcopal collections, received during services led by Bishop Rachel or Bishop Robert, are shared each year between three different charities.
The Music Works was founded in 2004 and supports over 3,000 children and young people each year; engaging them through music. This helps to build confidence, self-belief and motivation, and empowers them to improve their life chances.
Bishop Rachel says, “I have been delighted to spend time at The Music Works, seeing first-hand how their programmes are making a real difference in the lives of young people with many different life stories. The Music Works helps young people to learn new skills, form friendships and develop their unique talents. Projects like these allow young people to visualise a new future, explore their potential and find new ways to build relationships. Confident and connected young people are a huge asset to local communities, and supporting this project allows us to participate in life-giving work being delivered by partners in the community.”
Deborah Potts, CEO The Music Works, says, “The Music Works are so grateful to have been selected as one of the charities to benefit from the episcopal collections in 2023 and I personally look forward to growing our partnership with the Diocese and seeing how we can work together to further support our local community.”
During the Easter school holidays, The Music Works is offering four days of free Have a Go sessions, funded by Gloucestershire County Council HAF (Holiday Activities and Food programme) to provide young people in receipt of free school meals with access to music-making activities.
Lyndsay Davies, Youth and Community Director, The Music Works says, “We’re so excited to be working with Gloucestershire County Council again to run our popular Have A Go programme this Easter. It’s completely free and is a great chance to reach young people who might not normally engage with us. It will help them develop their musical skills whilst building connections with others. It’s an inclusive activity so priority is given to young people that access free school meals and lunch will be provided each day for those attending.”
Through the four days, young people will gain experience learning through multiple music activities such as; singing, songwriting, rapping, DJ’ing, music production and playing instruments, whilst having fun and making new friends. They will spend time learning how to set up/use equipment as well as creating new music/songs, working as a team and collaborating with other young people. Through these sessions, young people will develop social and musical skills, whilst building on their knowledge and self-confidence.
One parent says: “My son had the most amazing time ever! He came home absolutely buzzing!”
The Have A Go sessions are running from 3 to 6 April at The Hub, Gloucester, GL1 1RP. To book your place, visit: www.themusicworks.org.uk/events/have-a-go
Find out more about Easter services at Gloucester Cathedral here: What’s On | Gloucester Cathedral
The charities benefiting from the episcopal collections in 2023 are:
The Music Works
A Gloucestershire-based charity whose mission is to transform young people’s lives through music. They are specialists in working with young people in challenging circumstances to help them reach their full potential in music, learning and life. Their programme is far-reaching and diverse, from first access through early progression to talent and career development. Delivering one-to-one music mentoring, small group work, accredited training, apprenticeships and internships, festivals and events, artist and career development and business incubation.Church Roofs in Tanzania
Many new churches are being built in our partner Diocese of Western Tanganyika. Local congregations are enthusiastically making the bricks, but the hardest part of each construction is the roof, so there are several churches without them. Help is needed in buying the necessary materials. Once the churches have roofs, then Bishop Emmanuel will inaugurate them; thus providing communities with their own facilities in which to worship and to bring more people to Christ.International Partnership Bursaries for Theology
This year, the Diocese of Gloucester will be offering two bursaries of £1,500 to students of two of our partner Dioceses: Western Tanganyika in Tanzania and Dornakal in India. We look forward to enabling students, lay or ordained, to access higher educational studies that will enrich their own mission and ministry, and that of the Diocese they serve.
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