Doorway has just completed a series of three music workshops for guests.

The sesssions concentrated on providing a meaningful activity as a means of raising guests' confidence and self esteem, improving music skills and increasing motivation, as a first steps towards independence and social inclusion.

The workshops were funded by a grant from Progress 2; a Global Grants programme from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, supported by the European Union, which supports marginalised communities of working age, enabling them to learn new skills, build confidence and develop their potential.

Three improvisation sessions were run by Al Summers of Gandamusic, and his colleague Tony Stockley, using guitars, roll up keyboards and boomwhackers in order to teach the fundamental concepts of rhythm, harmony and melody.

Feedback from both volunteers and guests was very encouraging. One of the guests said “I’ve done something I never thought I’d be able to do.” A volunteer said “Good fun. Great to see guests enjoying new skills and much laughter.”

Al Summers said of one guest “He gave me a hug as he left: means more to me than having a piece performed at the Proms.”

Manager, Margaret Cleverley, said “We have seen guests grow in confidence after our music workshops. One homeless guest, who came to our first workshops two years ago, is now studying music at Chippenham College.”

"For me, I think everybody has a story to tell, not least those that turn up as guests at Doorway, & music is a great way for us to tell stories without having to find those elusive words. Which is why the composing and improvising music workshops have such creative and immediate results. The awareness that something which seemed impossible has been achieved, especially by working together, boosts confidence &, confident people generally have fewer problems." Al Summers

article added 15th November 2006