Opportunities/Links
Project Opportunities
OverDub Club
A new FREE programme run by Quench Arts for neurodivergent children aged 11-13.
Fun and relaxed creative music making sessions using ‘hands-on’ music technology and gadgets!
The sessions will run on Thursdays between 4-7pm from Touchbase Pears, 750 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, B29 6NA but we will give children a one hour time slot to attend to best meet individual needs.There will be an option to tell us whether your child would prefer individual sessions, sessions in a pair (with another participant), or small group sessions. However, as a key aim for the project is to build social connections, there will be an expectation for every child to progress to some form of collaboration over the sessions.
For more information and to register interest, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/OverDubClub
New Horizons Training Programme
New Horizons is in-person training in instrumental/ vocal teaching skills for proficient freelance/ sole trader musicians aged 18+, delivered by Quench Arts with support from Services for Education (Birmingham Music Education Hub).
The training course has 2 options:
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A free and unaccredited version of the course (our original New Horizons programme)
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A version which includes the Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators (CME) accreditation from Trinity Guildhall. This version has a subsidised cost of £1145, thanks to support from S4E (the full cost being £2820.80 per head).
The course sessions for both options are the same but the CME version includes all Trinity Guildhall moderation/certification costs. It also has additional mentoring support, assessment and feedback to help you develop a portfolio of evidence, plus additional assessed observations of your practice. Both versions include practical opportunities to put your learning into practice alongside other trainees.
Click on New Horizons to download an application pack.
The online application form can be found here: https://forms.gle/VyqQBowbXHv8bz2J7
You can also apply via audio or video format. If you decide to do an audio or video application, please ensure that you answer all of the questions on the application form and send it to info@quench-arts.co.uk.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on the 28th January 2026. Interviews are on the 4th February.
Dorothy's Arts Club
An arts club for young people who are LGBTQIA+ or allies. To register interest, head to: https://tinyurl.com/dorothysartsclub. This programme starts at the end of September 2025 and runs until July 2026.
Musical Connections
Musical Connections an established creative music-making network for adults who consider themselves isolated, lonely, vulnerable or marginalised as a result of their personal circumstances or specific needs. We have a high percentage of members on the project who are, or have been, mental health service users and others who have long term health conditions or disabilities which affect their mental health. Musical Connections focuses on working with people to create and record their own music as we believe that this is a great way for people to express their feelings and emotions. You don't need to have any prior musical experience (but it's fine if you do!). Check out the Musical Connections website for more info.
Musical Connections is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities programme for 3 years and is now accepting applications and referrals! Click on the flyer image to download the application form.
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Wavelength
Wavelength is a FREE, community-based, creative music making programme for young people aged 14-25 with mental health conditions living in Birmingham and Solihull.
Wavelength is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities programme for 3 year and is now accepting applications and referrals! Click on the flyer image to download the application form.
Plugin
Plugin is a FREE creative music-making project for young inpatients aged 12-25, focused on using music technology to achieve musical and wellbeing outcomes. The project aims to build participants’ self-esteem, help them connect with others and encourage them to express their feelings and emotions through music. The Plugin project will be running again from May 2025 until Feb 2029 as part of our InSync funding from Youth Music (see below). Sessions will be based in:
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Ardeleigh FCAMHS and Adriatic Ward, Birmingham
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Birmingham Children's Hospital Parkview Clinic (all wards)
Our previous partnership with Woodbourne Priory Hospital, Birmingham will also continue, but will engage adults as the hospital's CAMHS provision has closed. This hospital is directly funding the activity.
If you (or your child/family member) are an inpatient in one of these settings and would like to take part, please speak to your keyworker to register interest and to obtain a simple application.
LGBTQIA+ Youth Focus Group
Last year we created a Quench Arts LGBTQIA+ youth focus group for ages 11-25 which met monthly to help devise a new cross arts project and to produce an information and training offer for parents, teachers and other professionals. The group will now meet quarterly to help steer the programme. The focus group sessions are facilitated by 2 young people from the community, so the group is youth led and even this advert and wording has been devised by them! Interested? Please register at: https://forms.gle/syFXXF5sVPwTWkKq8
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EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!
We're absolutely delighted to announce that we have been successful with a Catalyser Fund application to Youth Music for our ‘InSync’ programme! This grant will give us a whopping 4 years of support and allow us to develop our work with neurodiverse children and young people in both inpatient mental health settings (through our Plugin project) and in the community (through a new OverDub Club project for 11-13 year olds). It’ll also allow us to build on some of our ‘Recharge’ learning to continue to support team wellbeing as well as a quarterly music leader peer support network, whilst continuing to provide young music leader and visiting performer roles, with training and mentoring.
Thank you so much to Youth Music for their ongoing belief and support.
