Opportunities/Links
Project Opportunities
Social Prescribing and Open Access Opportunities
We are excited to have recently launched 2 new programmes run on a social prescribing/open access model. These are our first foray into a chargeable model for participants but we are mindful of the cost of living crisis and are offering some discounted rates. We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England for their National Lottery Project Grant support to help us trial these programmes – their funding is subsidising the programmes to help keep the group sizes small, so that we can meet everyone’s needs. We have just finished the first term of sessions. More programmes will be coming later in the year!
STOP PRESS - NEW PROGRAMME LAUNCH!!
Music for Respite (Carers Music Programme) with Ann & Kayleigh
Tuesdays 7th November - 30th January, 1-3pm, with a break over the festive period.
Join our music making group for adult carers, providing respite, fun & the opportunity to meet other carers. All musical styles & cultures are valued. No previous experience is required & financial support for backfill carer costs is available! This 10 week programme is designed specifically for carers (paid and unpaid), who we know can often feel lonely or socially isolated due to fewer opportunities to pursue interests & friendships outside of their carer role. The sessions will be fun, safe, encouraging, tailored & accessible to the group. We aim for the sessions to provide a sense of achievement by setting & working towards a common group goal & to enable interaction, reflection & support from others who share & appreciate what it is to be a carer. Thanks to funding from Midland Mencap, these sessions are now available free of charge. Click here to download the flyer with booking/ referral information.
Female Group Music Making with Katie - new autumn term dates launched!
Wednesdays 4th October - 13th December, 2-4pm, with a break over half term.
These Female Group Music Making sessions have been designed for women aged 18+ who would feel more comfortable in a female only space. The sessions will focus on group music making, lyric & songwriting. People with all levels of musical experience, stylistic interests & cultural backgrounds are welcome. The sessions are inclusive so accessible to all, including those at the start of their musical journey. The sessions will run termly, each term being 10 weeks with a break for half term. Participants are welcome to attend just 1 term but can sign up to continue engagement in the January 2024 if they wish. The programme will particularly benefit women feeling socially isolated. It will help build musical & interpersonal skills & confidence & help participants to meet other local people with similar interests & experiences. Click here to download the flyer with booking/ referral information.
Musical Connections -
Musical Connections is a network for vulnerable and isolated adults including mental health service users living in Birmingham, Solihull & Sandwell. The project has been running for over 22 years. We understand the impact on mental health that coronavirus has had and appreciate the ongoing challenges, grief and social anxieties that remain. We know that many people struggled with the isolation of lockdown, the impact of restrictions on life and the unpredictability of the pandemic, especially those vulnerable in other ways. We also appreciate that the situation was exacerbated for those with existing mental health conditions and/or needing to shield, who were without access to the activities, friends and support that help people stay well. We aim for Musical Connections to help rebuild your confidence, using music to help you to express your feelings and to connect you with others with similar interests and experiences.
STOP PRESS! Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities programme we now able to confirm that Musical Connections can continue for another 3 years and so are now accepting applications and referrals! Click on the flyer image below to find our more about the project and download the application form.
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Wavelength - a FREE, community-based, creative music making programme for young people aged 14-25 with mental health conditions living in Birmingham and Solihull.
STOP PRESS! Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities programme we now able to confirm that Wavelength can continue for another 3 years and so are now accepting applications and referrals! Click on the flyer image below to download the application form.
Plugin - 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 is running in the following settings from April 2022 for 3 years:
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Ardeleigh FCAMHS and Adriatic Ward, Birmingham
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Birmingham Children's Hospital Parkview Clinic (all wards)
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Woodbourne Priory Hospital, Birmingham
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Cygnet Joyce Parker Hospital, Coventry
If you (or your child) 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.
Training Opportunities
4 YOUNG MUSIC LEADER ROLES
The deadline for 2023 applications has now passed. We will be recruiting again in early 2024.
These Young Music Leader roles will cover one project year of Plugin activity, funded by Youth Music, with match funding from project settings. Though our grant is for 3 years, the role is for 1 project year only, so that the development opportunity can be offered to other Young Music Leaders in future years.
8 YOUNG MUSIC LEADER ROLES
We have now finished recruiting for the You are Gold training opportunity which includes a paid bursary to deliver a community music project - keep an look out for opportunities to take part in the trainees' projects!
To address our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion priorities, these opportunities were specifically aimed at young people meeting any of the following criteria: from a Black or Asian background; identifying as having a physical disability; coming from a low socio-economic background; not having accessed further/ higher education; identifying as female.
Work/Job Opportunities
NEW ROLES!!
3 x Freelance Music Leaders for our Social Prescribing Programmes
Quench Arts is seeking to appoint 3 freelance facilitators for our music and wellbeing social prescribing programmes, each music leader working with an identified beneficiary group: adults with learning difficulties; neurodiverse adults; and parents with or at risk of peri/post-natal depression. Each programme will consist of a series of 10 sessions for 8 participants in 2024 with a view to developing and repeating the offer in future years, building on our learning, and also gaining further investment to expand our work with these groups.
Please see the role brief, responsibilities and requirements by clicking here.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 19th November.
Interviews: Thursday 23rd November.
General Enquiries
If you have a general enquiry about working for Quench Arts in the future then please get in contact to introduce yourself and your work. Please note that the majority of our staff are employed on a freelance, fixed term basis, attached to specific programmes of work. Therefore, we are unlikely to have any immediate openings when you do get in touch. However, we are always interested to hear from you and can keep you in mind for future project opportunities. We always do our best to support the development of those we work with and many of our staff have progressed through our trainee roles/training opportunities to lead facilitator roles for Quench Arts and other local organisations.
Volunteering Opportunities
Wavelength Volunteer Peer Mentor x 1 role
We are currently seeking funding for Wavelength. Please check back later in the year to see if we have any volunteering opportunities,
Musical Connections Volunteers x 5 roles (with associated training)
We will be recruiting new volunteers for Musical Connections soon. If you're interested in volunteering for us, you can send us an email to info@quench-arts.co.uk.
Sorry, all our other volunteer roles have been filled for current projects. Please give us a follow on our social media sites to find out about any future volunteering opportunities.
