Access to SiMPTI is a programme designed to provide music-making and training activities for people who are ‘at risk of social exclusion’ with an aim to engage and inspire them, increase their personal, social and technical skills, and improve their employability and well-being within a safe working environment,

People with an interest and some previous experience in music who are in one of the following groups:

Young people aged 16-25 years who are not in education, employment or training

People with mental, behavioural emotional issues (eg. depression, anxiety, Aspergers etc or those who are experiencing post-COVID trauma or mental health crisis.

People living in poverty or experiencing homelessness

People living in rural areas and are at risk of being isolated

Unemployed people who have recently arrived in the UK or refugees

Young people at risk of offending

COST: £60 per hr to cover tuition, studio hire and administrative costs

to increase confidence, resilience and self-esteem, improve mental health and enhance cognitive and interpersonal skills to help participants thrive in life.

to provide recording studio experiences and other creative and training opportunities including songwriting sessions and music production sessions using cutting -edge music technology software

to teach transferable skills in a safe environment, including IT skills, language skills and CV writing

to increase knowledge about career paths and how to sustain a career in the music industry and the use of social media and music platforms.

to increase professional networks and knowledge about the music industry and the world of work

to engage people with positive role models and music industry professionals

“Both the enthusiasm and support that we have encountered whilst linking in with Sound Gallery have been second to none. We would have no hesitation in recommending Sound Gallery and are looking forward to developing future projects with them”. (Nicola Ambrose, Student Support, Head of Scott House)

“For me as his mum to see his eyes light up and him smile when he talks about the work he has done with Sound Gallery is very precious as a great deal of time I see my son really struggle just to cope with every day life. So a massive thanks you for the support you have given him and I hope so much we can continue with this provision. I truly feel that the Sound Gallery sessions have helped prevent my son being re-admitted to hospital”. (young participants parent)

‘”Musically the group have no real experience in instrumentation but have had singing and song writing experience through sessions at CEDA. They have only done small recording sessions, but never in a real recording studio environment. Socially they all interact well as a group, but this opportunity allowed some of them to lead upon this and allocate roles and sing in small groups as well.The motivation for the whole of the project was the responsibility that they developed themselves and to take on the whole aspects of it including promotion, marketing, song-writing and to overall raise money for them as a group to go on trips or to attend gigs.” Mike Cook, CEDA music co-ordinator

“Due to the stigma attached with mental illness and psychosis makes it difficult to get together groups of young people, therefore assisting people as individuals to access mainstream community resources is what they try to aim for.” Caroline Oakford, Clinical leader, STEP team, Exeter