ELMO  is currently working on Music in the Ville a project taking musicians and working with men in HMP Pentonville.  We are currently bringing professional musicians in to perform to service users and engage them, encouraging them to join in, perform themselves and boosting morale of both staff and service-users themselves.

 

In 2019 we ran a pilot project of 10 music workshop/choir sessions culminating in a live performance.  During Covid we partnered with Irene Taylor Trust to deliver playlist packs for in cell listening and study.  Last year we ran 6 live workshops bringing professional musicians to perform live on the wings of Pentonville, engaging men and encouraging them to perform themselves.

 

We have consulted with participants regularly and are constantly developing our sessions following their suggestions and feedback.  The 2021 sessions were funded by the Hilden Charitable Fund and the Hanley Trust.  We have just received funding from Awards for All Lottery fund and are about to start running weekly half day workshops with regular groups as well as continuing our monthly "Busk around the prison" sessions which reach hundreds of men and staff and boost general morale and mental health in challenging circumstances.