SiFly DJing, health and education, music production

Adwick Primary School

“When we started I was quiet and didn’t want to talk much, but now if our teacher asks a question I will answer, I used to be scared to do things but now I find it easier to get involved, I enjoyed the beat pad most.” L.M aged 9

We asked if they felt anything had changed since we started 6 weeks ago.

It was our final session of 6 on Tuesday and I asked the children if they felt anything was different from when we met 6 weeks ago. 6 out of the 9 pupils recognised that they were more confident socially.

For us building strong social bonds and supercharging confidence are among our primary aims, but to hear them mirror back their understanding of it really made my day.

Over the past 6 weeks we have covered communication and discipline. Learning and development. Music from around the world. Songwriting and Music Production, DJing and the connections between Maths, Science, Art and Music.

We have Jammed, laughed, learnt about each other and explored the building blocks of Music.

Thanks to Miss Jenkins for taking part as well as supporting us through the sessions and thanks to all the School staff who made us feel welcome.

SiFly #SEND, DJing, health and education

Cura-Care Music Sensory group

“I love bringing him here, it gives him time away from me (mum) and gives him space to be himself.”

So nice to hear one of the mums appreciating the work of Paige and Rachel who share in our passion for supporting young people.

It was encouraging to hear from the ladies that there have been some positive leaps forward today.

Massive thanks to Well Doncaster for supporting us over the last few months and allowing us to work with so many different groups.

The highlight of my day today was just after the photo above, this young fella began to get creative and when he started to do some thing above and beyond, he turned to me and said “high five”

I gave him some skin and we carried on.

Thanks to everyone who who joined us today.

Upcoming sessions this week are.

Woodlands Library from 2.45 Monday, mixed age Askern Shakers from 7.00pm 11 to 16 Monday, Adwick Primary After School Club closed session, Tuesday Bullcroft Memorial Hall from 4.45pm Tuesday 7 to 11 Highfields Boxing Club from 4.45pm on Wednesday mixed age.

Free to join us. See you then

SiFly health and education

Woodlands Library Easter Fayre

Once again Councillor Smizz comes through for people in the Adwick /Woodlands area.

We had great engagement from all ages with babies and toddlers to 17 and 18 year olds taking part.

We met Damian Allen and his team from DMBC. It felt good to share some of our success stories, while Damian spoke with our latest volunteer Matt about how our vision for showcasing culture aligned with what they had both witnessed in Germany.

We took a quick (and dodgy looking) selfie and made some good connections in the community along the way.

Big thanks to Elizabeth and Jackie for inviting us, look out for FREE 90minutemusic sessions in the Library next term.

SiFly health and education

Highfields Boxing Club & Bentley Myplace

Awesome to welcome the birth of a new group in Highfields this evening. At this time of year its important to offer safe activities for young people, so thanks again to the Well Doncaster team at DMBC for their continued support.

We are proud to welcome our latest volunteer, Emily from Doncaster University Health and Social care. Providing opportunities for young people to develop through leadership is an important part of our ethos.

It’s not always easy to make the connection between health and music. The health benefits of social development around music can be life changing. We add the value of being experienced industry professionals with a strong awareness of current healthcare practices, which we are proud to pass on to the next generation.

We have also been back at Bentley Myplace where we have been finding out about young people’s aspirations and sharing our thoughts on how using music technology equipment could support essential skills for their future.

We will be back on Wednesday Highfields from 4.45pm and Bentley from 7pm

Join us this week

SiFly health and education

Edlington Eco – Bullcroft Memorial Hall – Myplace Bentley

Another busy week with focus on collaboration and inclusion.

After a chance meeting with Sam Siddall MBE, who was awarded her honour for community work, we were Invited to Edlington and were given a warm welcome by Lynn and the team.

We enjoyed an energetic jamming session with a wide age range as mum’s enthusiastically supported their children. It is a always a pleasure to work with children who have additional needs, especially in mixed groups as it adds value to all who attend on a social development level. Great to see lots of smiles and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Myplace Bentley was a little different this week as we decided to write a song based on the positive messages which are artistically written all over the youth hub walls. This presented a couple of challenges which were overcome with some creative collaboration. As always the timing of introducing challenges is crucial to build confidence and develop essential skills. Once again it was the girls who took the lead and proved that music technology is not a male only environment.

Carcroft this week was all about communication and Jamming. We had an increase in numbers due to a bit of canvassing outside the local school. We also welcomed attendees from across town who whole heartedly contributed.

Thanks again to Well Doncaster and Director of Public Health, Rupert Suckling who we met with this week. We look forward to sharing some more detail of our recent success stories.

Bentley Myplace from 6.00pm Wednesdays

Carcroft Bullcroft Memorial Hall from 4.00pm Thursdays.

SiFly Uncategorized

R.U.F.C. & H.B.C.

All about creation this week. We start with nothing and work together to create something by focusing on goals and finding creative ways to get there.

Following on from our work of recognising the value of others and an introduction to the building blocks of Music, we created some beats and looked at how rap music uses syllables, and the relationship to phonics in school.

The facilities at the New York Stadium are great and provide a positive environment for young people to develop. It was rewarding to see young people gaining confidence, by finding their voice through our informal youth led approach.

We were also back at Highfields Boxing Club for our penultimate session. We took part in a challenge to create a full arrangement and song within the time frame of the session.

Incredible focus and team working. We produced an original song with 4 different sections, music and used audio effects to support the production. I’m really proud of the way this group have developed and also the way they have introduced new comers to the group.

As always thanks to Liz and John for allowing me to use the Boxing Club as a venue, also thanks to Jonny at Rotherham United for supporting grass roots providers such as 90minutemusic.

SiFly health and education

Highfields Boxing Club

Back to School week and another great turn out. As always it is great to have young people from the local area attend. I must give credit to the parents travelling from Adwick and as far away as Warmsworth to get their children to our sessions.

I think we were all feeling the back to school blues this week. Good to see some new faces that told us that if we weren’t there, then they would be just kicking around on the streets.

When we were younger kicking around on the streets was Hide and Seek, British Bulldog, Double Dutch and of course Football. It is a different world now and we are proud to play our part in providing safe activities for young people to do. Thanks as ever to Liz for providing the venue.

SiFly health and education, Uncategorized

Atlas Primary Academy

Great enthusiasm and expression at Atlas Academy in the heart of Doncaster this week with use of Microphones and Samplers. The students embraced the opportunity to use the technology. Although we bring with us state of the art equipment, we always encourage freedom of expression and in recent weeks we have introduced a shopping trolley, a tape measure and improvised drum kits into our music making.

Thanks to Neil the caretaker for his help, looking forward to seeing you all again next week.

SiFly Uncategorized

#dnshowcase2022

We recently attended a celebration of Doncaster Businesses. We were lucky enough to meet David Shaul, Jordan Goldsworthy and Robert Campbell from That Agency Co. They are a Creative Media company based in the Frenchgate Centre.

They created a vlog of the whole event here. https://youtu.be/jJiLt2-OihI

Great to talk to guest speaker Rik Courtney from Be More Social, who have given us business support through the CWB, along with many other wonderfully passionate and creative people. Credit to Doncaster Chamber for organising.

SiFly Uncategorized

Astrea Atlas Academy

Energetic Intensive Effort

We were Invited to work with Astrea Academies after meeting Fran Lightfoot at a Community Wealth Builder networking event.

We identified a need to engage with pupils who needed further support. Fran linked us up with Head Jonathan Moody and we decided to focus on pupils with Additional Needs and Specific Learning Difficulties.

Great enthusiasm, whole heartedly connecting with the technology yesterday. We worked on composing, choosing appropriate sounds and learning how to chop beats while keeping good time.

Thanks to Isla Foundation for not only funding, but also for having the patience to stay with us through the difficult times we have faced. The credit also goes to the Barrier Buster fund, for agreeing a match fund to support young people in the most challenging situations. This will give a boost to their confidence, resilience and development.

Atlas is close to Doncaster’s famous St James Street Tower Blocks.

While studying for my degree a good friend lived on the very top floor of the block next door to this one, It’s a magnificent view over the Plant Works and out towards Cusworth Hall.

Big thanks to the young people, the Parents for returning the consent forms, Grace and Jonathan for inviting us and Neil the caretaker for supporting.