Press Coverage - Arts Council

News from arts council England, London

Spin City

We provide £35,500 through grants for the arts towards a pilot for the Sonic Spin scheme in Barking and Dagenham in 2004/05. The pilot proved model for success, creating diverse partnerships within the borough and engaging a wide range of young people.

Partnerships include Barking and Dagenham Arts Programme and Development Regeneration Teams, European Social Fund, The Youth Support and Development Service, Castle Green Community Centre and Dagenham Park Community School. 

The courses are created and delivered by music industry professionals from Point Blank Music college and accredited by the London Open College Network (OCN). Modules provide training in many skills including DJ skills, music Production, performing arts, radio production, music video production and club promotion. The scheme aims to be accessible to those with the latest opportunity and to encourage hard to reach young people back into education by engaging with Youth Offending Teams. Education Regeneration and lifelong learning, community youth groups and schools.

The ultimate aim is to create a music and arts programme across more London boroughs, working with partners and resources that are already there, to produce original work and leave a legacy in the form of a capital resource such as a new studio or radio station.

The plot in Barking and Dagenham reached nearly 150 young people across the borough 70% of the students who attended the modules achieved OCN passes and many of the students took part in an end of course performance. The Sonic Spic model is now being introduced in Redbridge, and developed in Enfield and Waltham Forest.