Our vision is of a world where people with lived experience of the criminal justice system can experience the life-enhancing benefits of music-making, especially its power to help them lead crime-free lives that are meaningful and creative

Our mission is to engage people with lived experience of the criminal justice system in music programmes that unlock their creativity and individual potential. We support participants to share their artistic work and lived experience with audiences, helping them to break free from the stigma of their past and to re-frame their identities. We advocate for the instrinsic value of the arts in criminal justice and for approaches that address inequalities affecting vulnerable people in the criminal justice system

We pursue our mission by running long-term music and mentoring programmes in prisons, secure children's homes and post-release. Here are some of the distinctive features of our music-making work...

Our music programmes are relational

We use music to build healthy relationships - between our musicians and our participants, between participants themselves and between participants and other people in their lives. Participants become part of the Changing Tunes community. Many become ambassadors for us. A former participant is now a Musician-in-Residence. Another is a Trustee

Our work is trauma-informed

We provide safe spaces for participants to experience the therapeutic benefits of music-making. We have a growing number of case studies where participants have understood something within themselves, by working on songs that resonate with them. These moments of self-discovery can be pivotal, contributing to better wellbeing and positive choices. We also help participants to use music to self-sooth and channel emotions, building healthy coping mechanisms and creative outlets

Our music programmes are participant-centred

Our musicians tailor each session to support the needs and potential of each participant. Our programmes are designed to help participants express themselves, be it by working on existing songs that resonate with them personally, or by making their own music, drawing on musical and cultural influences that connect to their experience.

Many of our participants become peer-mentors, helping to facilitate our sessions. We regularly consult our participants to help us evaluate and shape our work. We are currently working with an Advisory Group of participants to help us develop our programmes, in the wake of Covid19 and beyond.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to integrate the voices and lived experience of our participants into our work. It reflects our ambition to nurture creative leaders with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

This model is also embedded in our new record label and artist development scheme, Red Tangent Records. Conceived and led by a former participant, who is now a Changing Tunes musician, this will support the professional development of people with significant musical potential and commitment, who've experienced the criminal justice system. It addresses barriers to young people and adults who've come through the system, and who face additional disadvantages due to inter-sectional inequalities, supportingthe to forge sustainable careers in a changing music industry. Ultimately, this will help to diversify the voices we hear in the music industry. It will give a platform to artistic leaders who bring lived experience and insight into creative solutions to complex problems

Our work is long-term

For example, our founding partner, HMP Bristol, has hosted our work for over 30 years now. We continue to engage participants post-release. By delivering long-term support, we build trusting relationships with our participants and provide consistency in often chaotic lives. This enables participants to achieve meaningful artistic outcomes and to make changes on a personal and social level. We support participants to pursue creative pathways and other progression routes. We’re currently supporting three bands to develop and promote their work as independent artists. The Red Tangent record label and artist development scheme is a new pathway for participants who have the potential to develop as professional musicians and producers. We also signpost participants onto support services, volunteering, training and employment, connecting with our partners to do this effectively. And whilst we’re in it for the long-haul, we help beneficiaries to be independent. Many go onto ‘give back’. For example, a former beneficiary teaches music at a women’s refuge and several now work in addiction recovery

We work in partnership

Before the Covid19 enforced lock-down, we were resident at 18 prisons, who we’ve continued to work with during the pandemic, by providing distance learning resources and where possible, Covid-secure in-person sessions. We partner with secure children’s homes to engage young people in trauma-informed music-making work that empowers them to develop their potential and claim ownership over their own story. Partnerships are key to our post-release work. We partner with St Mungo’s Recovery College to deliver relational music programmes with engage ex-prisoners who are homeless, or in temporary accommodation. This furthers our aim to be joined-up and to grow our impact in a meaningful way

Our work is facilitated by inspirational musicians

Our programmes are facilitated by our inspiring team of Musicians-in-Residence.  They are professional musicians with incredible talent and industry credentials. Some of them have lived experience. All of them enact an unconditional belief in the unique potential of every individual. Our musicians are based across the Southwest and South of England, the Midlands and South Wales. This helps us to work across a number of regions, whilst maintaining a close connection to the local communities

See below for a map of where we work...