Innovate 2022-23 projects announced!

We are pleased to announce the two projects that have been awarded our 2022-23 Innovate funding grant. More information about the projects can be found below.

Angie’s Keep Calm and Sing Connect Project

I’m Angie Anuforo of Angie’s Keep Calm and Sing Group; Promoting BETTER BREATHING. I’m a professional vocalist who shares skills for better wellbeing in the community.

My organisation’s service to the community helps people correct or become more aware of how they breathe. Before the pandemic it was clear to me many people aren’t BREATHING correctly and this makes health conditions like asthma, diabetes, anxiety, stress, low energy levels etc worse.

I deliver fun venue based workshops currently in and around London, plus I deliver Nature and online workshops. From feedback and evaluation of past projects it seems the workshops are having a positive impact and helping transform people’s health in positive ways.

Workshops start off with relaxing music where folks can start to unwind, gentle release of tension through some breath work and light stretches etc. As well as sharing breathing exercises for relaxation I share breathing exercises for singing, which has been found to transform one’s health positively in two weeks of doing the exercises regularly (Dr Belissa Vranich, author of the book Breathe)

I applied for Innovate as I thought it would be the fund that would support my endeavours to trial how I would add the teaching of the English language within the teaching of breath work and singing. It has supported me exploring fun ways of doing this.

For this project, I am partnering up with the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (AACA) based in Feltham and a London hotel where some refugees have been housed. A recent Evening Standard report (February 2022) stated that some refugees feel “stuck” as they await permanent accommodation.

Being that I am working with Afghanistan refugee kids and their parents, I would like to see that participants felt improved wellbeing and better understanding of the English language. For me, I would like to improve on the teaching methods for participants who do not speak English as their first language. I would also like to improve relations with organisations involved.

Website: https://angieskeepcalmandsinggroup.co.uk

Future Rockstars

Be the Band is a social enterprise that uses innovative technology to give disadvantaged young people the experience of playing in a rock band, even if they’ve never picked up an instrument before. As well as providing educational benefits, our approach has been shown to improve the self confidence and mental wellbeing of those taking part. Until now we have worked mostly within mainstream schools, however our ambition has always been to reach a much wider group of participants. This grant from Sound Connections will enable us to work with those in the Youth Justice System for the first time, and we’re excited to be trialling a pilot project with Camden Youth Offending Service.

Website: https://betheband.co.uk

To find out more about our Innovate programme, click here.