Mission

The objects of the DJ School Association shall be to encourage and promote the educational and career development of people of all backgrounds particularly disadvantaged children and young people, living in Staffordshire and Cheshire. Fostering personal and social development through      Applied Arts and providing support and guidance to improve social and      personal out comes for individuals with a range social and development      limiting issues where arts can be used to improve outcome for those      individuals.To give opportunities for training, education  and volunteering with opportunities to      perform and show back in the community. With a view to improving beneficiaries’ confidence, team working skills, literacy, numeracy and self esteem and educational possibilities

Category

Education and Skills

Additional Information

The DJ School Association was formed in 2005.  It grew out of the DJ School project delivered and initiated in 2002 by community urban arts group Verbal Arts, an organisation in receipt of core funding from Youth Music.  The overwhelming success of this project led to the DJ School project’s expansion in 2004.        The Association works with the most disadvantaged, marginalised and difficult to reach people in The North Staffordshire andSouth Cheshirecommunities.    The aims and objectives of the DJ School Association are to encourage and promote the educational and career development of people of all backgrounds, and particularly disadvantaged children and young people and vulnerable adults, living in Staffordshire andCheshire.  It aims to achieve this by fostering personal and social development through a range of creative activities to enhance employability, confidence and self-esteem and to create high quality career and educational opportunities.   Since the creation of the DJ School Association the organisation has earned a reputation for delivering high quality music making opportunities, helping young people build self-esteem and confidence.  This has been achieved by teaching them the skills required to make a career from DJ-ing/Music Technology, MC-ing/Rap and theatre/performance in a safe, fun and constructive environment.     The project works with participants who are complete beginners; through ongoing support and guidance over a period of 3 twelve week terms each year it encourages them to aspire to intermediate and advanced levels.  Those who commit to the programme and gain advanced skills are provided opportunities, as part of the project, to perform in public at showcases and professional events in the community as well potential employment opportunities.   The Organisation offers ongoing support for individual and groups in activities including weekly advice and guidance sessions dealing individuals through an holistic approach; creative and technical workshops seeking to impart practical useful skills and outcomes; and tutorials and seminars.  The organisation is based at the urban arts centre and has access to a music recording studio IT; multi media suite; two classrooms; a dance studio; and office space   The DJ School Association also endeavours to work in the community with residents associations, youth groups and other groups and to bring to the communities ofStoke-on-Trentactivities, resources and awareness of issues that effect them and practical ways of solving issues.     Ben 18, has Downs Syndrome and made his own music CD developing IT, engineering and creative skills to do so.  The process introduced him to song writing, the creative process and product development.  He describes, in a local publication, his joy and pleasure and significant confidence boost the work with the charity had given him.    Malcolm is a former intravenous drug user who has used his dream of being a professional DJ to inspire himself.  With the help of DJSA staff, in focusing his life and stopping using and injecting, he now has a home and is receiving heroine substitute.  He hopes to rejoin society as a productive member.  In this way the organisation supports and works with over 90 extremely difficult to reach young and vulnerable people.   Many of the young people involved with the DJ School Association are at risk.  They reside in areas of the West Midlands andNorth Westthat have a violent drug culture that particularly targets young people.  Involvement in the group activities provided by the DJ School Association helps focus and channel many young people away from such negative cultural influences. “I practice every night not to my neighbour’s amusement.  Every bit of pocket money I get goes on my DJ equipment such as records, decks and speakers.  I used to get into trouble at home and school and hang around with a bad crowd.  Now all I’m interested in is my music and what I can achieve in the future.  I now have something to look forward to.”  Participant aged 13.   By rooting its work firmly in the community and by allowing young people to be central to decision making and planning processes, the DJ School has established a firm base for future development.  It will continue its work at its base and seek to maintain and develop local, regional and national partnerships.