Prison Music Organisations
Information on the various organisations facilitating
music in prisons across England and Wales
2makeit is a charity that helps rehabilitate prisoners and ex-prisoners by offering them creative expression through programmes in skills such as music, art and writing. Engaging with fellow prisoners, guided by experts including musicians, artists and writers, they learn how to collaborate and create, inspiring them to lead more productive and positive lives whilst in jail, and law-abiding lives on release.
(2MakeIt website)
Improving mental health, building social inclusion, finding and creating employment for people serving sentences
(BT Website)
Music has the power to unlock people's potential to change. It improves wellbeing and enables personal growth, which both aid rehabilitation Our Musicians-in-Residence are multi-instrumentalists and compassionate role models. They deliver group music sessions in prison and monthly sessions in the community. In each session, 5 to 10 people learn and create different styles of music together. We create a safe place for people to express themselves and learn to collaborate with others. Over time, the group bonds and works toward goals such as recordings and performances. We support people for as long as they need us in prison and upon release.
(Changing Tunes Website)
Finding Rhythms (Charity Number: 1151872) has built a reputation as intervention specialists in the field of musical creativity. Since 2012, we have worked with over 25 UK prisons in addition to building vital partnerships with like-minded charities, schools and alternative provisions and probation services. Our beneficiaries craft original songs, aided by professional music producers, and this has resulted in the creation of over 600 songs and 50 albums of original music and over 300 learners achieving qualifications.
(FR Website)
Good Vibrations is an award-winning national charity using communal-music making to support people in challenging circumstances with additional needs.
(GV Website)
We are an award winning social initiative, with a proven track record of creating positive change for society. InHouse Records reduces the recidivism rate. ? InHouse Records is a rehabilitative record label for change. Operating in and out of UK prisons across the South East of England since 2017
(InHouse Records Website)
We believe creating original music collaboratively has a powerful positive impact on people's lives, bringing new confidence, important transferrable skills and raised aspirations for the future. Music can break down barriers and help people who have found themselves on the fringes of society to become celebrated and valued members of the community. Our projects support NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) young people, ex-prisoners and people of all ages in prisons.
(Irene Taylor Trust Website)
The overall aim of Liberty Choirs is to provide for excluded and isolated people (for example, those in secure psychiatric settings or people who are serving custodial sentences) a 'through the gate' programme of high-quality singing and social development. It is designed to help develop skills and self-confidence, open up the world of arts through singing and provide access to new social networks as the participants re-enter the wider community.
(Liberty Choir Website)
Prison radio offers a unique, innovative and effective way to communicate with prisoners and engage them in education, debate and community. Working alongside serving prisoners and focusing on speech radio, the PRA produces and delivers National Prison Radio, broadcasting information and educational materials which support the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) reducing reoffending agenda
(NPR Website)
The Prison Choir Project is a Koestler PLATINUM Award winning Charity whose objectives are to rehabilitate prisoners, ex-offenders and people experiencing mental disorder by the advance of the arts and culture, in particular through the performance of opera, song, and choral music.
(PCP Website)
Sing Inside delivers group singing workshops in prisons, connecting volunteers drawn from the local community with their local prison communities. Our workshops use musical learning to build confidence, break down social stigma and create and strengthen communities.
(Sing Inside Website)