We are the music makers

L&Q has secured funding to continue running a successful community project that is teaching young people all about music production.

Around 30 youngsters from the Horn Park estate in Greenwich have been going to weekly sessions where they learn about music mixing, recording and performing with expert tutors.

The project has been running for a almost a year and funds have already been raised to create a studio in a room at the local community centre. Young people can use this room every day.

Now L&Q has been awarded a Grassroots grant from the Capital Community Foundation - a London-based charity - for £4,800 to keep the project going over the school summer holidays. We are also waiting to hear if we have been successful with a BIG Lottery Fund bid, which would support the project for another three years.

Mary Rouse, a Neighbourhood Investment Co-ordinator at L&Q, said: "The young people have created CDs of their music, all performed, recorded and mixed by them and they have also developed a MySpace page. They have also organised and held two showcase events where they demonstrated their talents and work to the local community. People of all ages have attended these events, which have begun to turn around local opinion on young people."

She added: "The grant we have just secured is a real boost and it will provide mentoring support to the young people each week at the sessions on their estate.
"The mentors will help the young people to look for local training, employment and educational opportunities and also support them with applications, interviews and practical arrangements like transport, opening bank accounts and so on."