“I think the programme has been good in terms of citizenship and civic responsibility”
Yinka Yesufu, Network Co-ordinator for MZONE

Project Background
Merseyside YMAZ (Youth Music Action Zone) runs a particularly successful workforce development focus which empowers young people with the ability to generate their own music scene in their area.  The project encourages the personal development of young people who have behavioural problems or come from socially excluded backgrounds.  The Young Promoters and Young Ambassadors schemes equips young people with the skills and experience necessary to promote and organise musical events on Merseyside.  The project succeeds where so many fail by providing young people with what they actually want – this is achieved by putting the control into their hands.

Project Details
Using the under 18s Dry Bar as a venue young people from Merseyside are able to offer showcase opportunities for young acts and to develop the promoters programme.  Master classes on specific elements of music making and the music industry are also on offer at the Dry Bar.  Being part of such an experience empowers the young people involved and gives them an otherwise unavailable insight into organising and running music events.   The events are ultimately more successful because they are run by young people so they deliver what is really wanted.

What do Young Promoters do?
Young Promoters take the lead on all events organized by the under 18s Dry Bar.  They do everything from event organisation to designing flyers and web pages for their events.  This equips them with the skills and experience they need to organise a show; a useful tool for the present and the future.

What do Young Ambassadors do?
Young Ambassadors are young people aged 13 -18 hailing from five Merseyside boroughs.  They lead of various activities include promoting MZONE to other young people in their area, meeting and talking to senior policy makers within the Merseyside region.  This gives the young ambassadors not only a chance to have their voices heard but also offers them a view on how their community operates.  The Young Ambassadors also work as a go between for their individual youth projects and MZONE, allowing them to see both the big and small picture.

What Was Achieved?
‘Young people gain confidence, they become empowered to make choices and represent other young people in local decision making’.
– Caroline Murphy, Youth Worker

‘There is a noticeable increased self-esteem over time, an awareness of their surroundings and improved understanding of how their community works.  I think the programme has been good in terms of citizenship and civic responsibility’.
- Yinka Yesufu, CPD and Network Co-ordinator for MZONE

‘The Dry Bar is beneficial for the young music culture of Liverpool and gives them [young people] a chance to voice their opinion and put their thoughts into actions.  It gives them an insight into the music industry as a career, both in performing and promoting’.
– Andee

What Next?
The ideas generated from the Dry Bar are going to be used in a developing exchange programme with other programmes across the region.  The sharing of good practice enables other projects to improve the music provision for more young people.
 

Words:  Lizzy King

For more information about either of these groups, please contact MZONE
E: info@mzone.org.uk