Danny isn't an author, and the rap isn't a book - he is a young man I met today at the National Crimebeat Awards in London. He is a member of the Respond Academy team from St Leonard's on Sea, East Sussex, who won third place - and we are hugely proud of them all. Chris had put this brilliant initiative forward for the awards - and we are delighted they were not only finalists but prizewinners!
Danny was going to perform a rap as part of the group's presentation - but for one reason or another, he was not able to. He was kind enough to give me a copy of the words, which tell how important music has been in helping him turn his life around when 'home' is not the place of safety we like to think it is.
Rap
The minute people realised I was a big kid who could throw a mean slug
people would stop turning round and labelling me as a thug.
After that day I would go home and never receive a kiss or hug
and never receive a single ounce of love
‘til I turned round and said that’s it.
Enough is enough.
Because I turned round and walked away,
that’s the reason I can talk the way I talk today.
See, I was taught to be a criminal and commit crimes every day,
until one day I woke up and realised crime isn’t the way.
Back then I was a confused little kid, so I focused on my music.
Music is like therapy helping me and that’s why I use it,
so now I been given this opportunity I’m not going to abuse it.
Music is my life, and that’s why I choose it.
Brilliant. Thanks to Danny and the whole team.
Read on for more about Respond Academy, which helps young people who for one reason or another aren't fitting into the education system...
Pablo & Jc McFee 2006 devised a specialist education programme using the Arts, Music & Media that gave young people a thirst for learning and helping them to find new ways of working within the creative fields to create employment or work along side other Artists and professionals on incredible high profile or local events or projects. Jc realized that the Arts Award in 2007 was the way forward to obtain qualifications for our Community members as well as some of the most excluded challenging Students from EBD schools giving them 2 Gcse’s to enable them to go towards their further education.
Respond Academy has a proven track record from 2004 that has given numerous life changing opportunities to young people in our community to learn art, dance, photography, writing lyrics, learn how to use apple iMacs inc ;Numerous software for Film, Production, Vocal Booth, Sound Desk, Live instruments Music Music, IT,ART mixed media ,Painting or Drawing
Here is a short-list of just some of the achievements some of the young people who attend either as part of the alternative education project or the community project.
- At university to study; law, Film,multi-media, drama, art, & business studies
- Returning to mainstream school and maintaining behaviour to continue at college. .
- 100+ young people starting at college and completing their courses.
- 50+ young person going to college at 18 years of age – after no formal education since they were 13/14 years old
- 50+ employment in their chosen fields various jobs including , Teaching assistants, Legal secretary, Admin / Welfare officers, Manager of print/graphic design company, WebDesigner, Global Dj & Mc , Film maker, Web designer, Graphic designer,
- 12 gained training and employment on film’s working with a mainstream film producers and commercial film company
- 59 students gaining GCSE level qualifications (Silver Arts Awards)
- 2 students gaining AS level qualifications (Gold Arts Awards)
- 12 Bronze Arts Award
- 11 BTECs in 1st Certificate Music Production. 1 student obtained a Double Distinction after having been excluded from EBD unit School and dispite not able to read or write but having a natural ability for iMac programmes and software .
- 100+ Learning to understand their behaviour and consequences
- 30+people attending various training courses
- 15 Peer trainers gaining paid employment for workshops they had devised and delivered
- 2 young people sought their own funding for music/art projects they had devised. Both these projects exceeded all expectations
- A core group of 4 successfully co-event managed Parklive 2007 a youth music festival linked to The Annual Beer Festival in Hastings
- A group of 10/12 facilitated various music/dance/mc-DJ events throughout 2007 through 2012 in East Sussex
- A group of 4 devised & delivered short reels, an innovative film project in conjunction with Children’s Services, Youth Development Services, and local schools in 2009 .
- 2 members sought funding from Youth Bank and started an incredible successful youth monthly Disco event called VIBES in 2007-2009 VIBES founder Lauren was so innovative that she Booked Tynchy Stryder the WEEK before he went into NO1 & then she booked Tinie Tempah & the next week he was A Star and a few other exciting Artists .Everything was run and managed by a an amazing team of young people aged from 14-21 years old.
- we have a selection of Respond Academy LIVE Up & Coming Artists
- Devonerri & Sully won MAKING TRACKS with a tune called {I like Hastings } Southern Railway in 2011
- we have a in house z1 Film Crew
- JUNE 2012 our Youth Ambassador went to Sierra Leone to make new Links with other Youth Groups Watch this Space.
- Members are commissioned to run multi/ mixed art /live music workshops with CAMHS young people in-house at The academy & then Eastbourne in 2012
- Members are commissioned to run Dance workshops at Specialist schools in Bexhill on Sea
- Members are commissioned to event manage and host community events.
- Members are commissioned to make flyers for Companies and Artists.
- Members are offered film extra roles .
- Members have been commissioned to make live soundtracks for Films 2012 .
- Members have been asked to sit on numerous forums to give their opinions as young people .
- Members have been asked to perform live at numerous community events since 2007 -2012
- Artists Rebecca Youssefi hosted numerous art exhibitions and events on her own and members work whilst in house Curator for The Academy and Coastal Currents in Hastings 2011
- Numerous innovative In – house video shorts including dancing, singing
You can read more about the National Crimebeat Awards here: http://www.national-crimebeat.org.uk
