Young People from across Northumberland are creating their own music reflecting on who they are and their place.
Ability 2 Play Northumberland, Cramlington Town Council, Cramlington Learning Village
Building on a legacy from our Real Voice Youth Music project, young people from across South-East Northumberland will have the opportunity to work with local artists to create music and build new skills.
Re-partnering with Ability2Play, Cramlington Town Council and Cramlington Learning village, we are providing a bespoke programme to each partner to support young people to access high quality music provision.
We worked with Disabled young people aged 14–25 at Ability2Play from March – November 2025. Building upon a previous Youth Music project Real Voice.
Supporting them to dive into a new creative journey, we began with three lively listening workshops. Together, we explored the music they loved, the goals they wanted to set and the kind of sound they were excited to create. Their shared enthusiasm for rock music quickly took shape, leading to the formation of their own band, Ability2Rock, with musician Eleanor Adams guiding them as lead artist.
Across 12 workshops, the group experimented with instruments, developed new skills and wrote original music that reflected their ideas and energy. They also collaborated with artist Gareth Davies‑Jones to record their tracks, several of which were later mastered and documented – an achievement they were incredibly proud of.
As their confidence grew, so did their ambition. The young people expressed a strong desire to perform live, and with extra rehearsals alongside music leaders, they refined their songs, crafted introductions and prepared for the stage. Their hard work culminated in a live performance at the Ashington Lights Switch On in November 2026, where they shared their music with the community and celebrated everything they had created together.
In summer 2025, we teamed up with Cramlington Town Council to spark a music movement for young people across the town. Co-designed with students from Cramlington Learning Village, our pop-up workshops brought festival vibes, fresh beats, and hands-on creativity to local spaces.
5 Drop-In Sessions. 3 Epic Artists. Unlimited Energy.
We took over Alexandra Skate Park, East Hartford, and Mayfield with high-impact music experiences for ages 8–14. Young people dropped in to:
From boomwhacking on benches to spinning tracks in the sun, local parks came alive with sound.
What We Achieved Together:
We partnered with CLV’s music department to provide a series of masterclasses to year 8 students. Inspiring them to try new things and take up music in year 9, we co-designed 4 masterclasses with the Head of music.
Working with musicians Bernii Mac and Ken Masters the masterclasses explored:
We were thrilled to join young people from across the UK in London for an inspiring day celebrating the Open Doors Fund, a powerful initiative from Youth Music in partnership with Spotify. The event was a vibrant showcase of how accessible youth spaces and creative opportunities can unlock potential and transform lives through music.
From the moment we arrived, the energy was electric. Spotify opened its doors to give everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry, offering hands-on workshops and immersive experiences that brought creativity to life.
A standout moment of the day was the panel discussion featuring guest speakers from Girl Grind (Birmingham) and acclaimed artist Kojey Radical. They shared powerful personal stories about their journeys in music, the challenges they faced, and how youth spaces played a pivotal role in their development. Their insights highlighted the importance of creating inclusive environments where young voices can be heard and nurtured.
One of the most exciting parts of the day was a songwriting and rap workshop led by the Guvna B. Our participants were guided through the creative process, encouraged to express themselves authentically and explore their musical style—regardless of their experience level. It was a space filled with collaboration, experimentation, and growth, where everyone was empowered to find their flow and craft meaningful lyrics.
To top it all off, the day ended with live performances from rising star Nat Oakes and the Kojey Radical. It was the perfect finale to a day that celebrated music as a force for connection and change.
We’re incredibly grateful to Youth Music and Spotify for making this experience possible. Their commitment to supporting young creatives and opening doors to the music industry made a lasting impact—and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes our young people next.
This project has been funded by the Spotify x Youth Music ‘Open Doors’ Fund.
