Community Partners
Our partnerships help to better equip and train our students
SoapBox
Free and open to all young people who live, work or study in Islington.
SoapBox Islington is a centre for young people aged 13 upwards, who live, study or work in Islington. We cover a wide range of activities including music, dance, tech, creative arts, digital and everything in between!
Our regular drop in sessions run from 4pm to 8pm weekdays during school term time with daytime activities on offer during holidays. We also organise trips and events over the weekends. We also have evenings of activities for autistic young people, people with learning disabilities and care leavers with dedicated support staff.
Our technology activities are focussed on cutting edge, giving you access to the tech and experts in their field, business professionals and other volunteers who can guide and advise you if this is the area you would like to explore as your career. There is plenty of space to chill out, free wi fi, computers to use and staff for advice or help or a chat. If you need specialist support we can point you in the right direction. SoapBox is funded by LB Islington and managed by Dragon Hall Trust.
www.soapboxislington.org.uk
Rock School
Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician. Ranging from introductory grades to advanced levels of study, RSL Awards’ graded music exams ensure hard work is rewarded regardless of age or previous musical experience.
Whether you are taking your first steps on your instrument, moving into further/higher education, or perfecting your advanced instrument technique; a Rockschool qualification will not only improve your playing ability, but expand your technical proficiency and give you a solid grasp of music theory – all whilst learning some of the most iconic tracks from the world of popular music.
https://www.rslawards.com/rockschool/
United Colleges Group
United Colleges Group offers education and training in almost all vocational areas at a variety of levels for a wide range of learners of all ages and starting points.
Sector specialisms include Business & Accountancy, Construction, Engineering, IT, Computing & Robotics, Public Services, Science, Sport, Creative & Digital Industries and Provision for Learners with High Needs. In 2017, CWC’s timely apprenticeship achievement and timely adult achievement rates were the highest in London and amongst the best in the country.
UCG has extensive and effective employer links with key employers in London and nationally, including Crossrail, MetroNet, London Underground, Skanska and Land Securities, United Biscuits, Arup, Atkins, McLaren. The Group has the capacity to respond effectively to the skills needs of London, and to deliver on national contracts.
www.ucg.ac.uk
Simons Muirhead & Burton LLP
Simons Muirhead & Burton LLP are SoundSkool’s legal advisors. They provide us with legal advice and support across the school’s activities and, with particular expertise in the world of music and entertainment law.
Simons Muirhead & Burton LLP are also able to assist our students when they come to navigate the intricacies of the music industry.
Founded in 1971 and based in London’s West End, we are recognised in the legal press and the wider industry as leaders across a range of practice areas.
From our civil liberties and criminal roots in Soho to the full-service law firm that we are today, our empathy and tenacity have always set us apart.
We represent individuals and organisations – from people needing a trusted adviser to protect their rights and interests, to start-up businesses looking for professional guidance as they step up to the next level, to substantial businesses as they expand both in the UK and internationally. We represent those with dynamic ideas, from technology companies raising funding to advising family offices and leading challenger banks.
When we take on a matter, we’re all in. From inception to completion, you can expect us to remain steadfast by your side and fight hard for you.
Since we began, our values and principles have remained at the core of our firm, as has the Death Penalty Project, the charity we founded and continue to support.
As well as seeking the best possible outcomes for clients, we ensure that we demonstrate our commitment to the values that matter to us. Those values impact all aspects of our business: from our lawyers and support staff to our clients, and all the relationships we build with the wider community.
www.smb.london
The Brandon Centre
Based in the heart of our local community, Brandon Centre offers a comfortable, welcoming, and non-institutional setting for young people to access a range of mental health and wellbeing services.
Our self-referral system means that all young people can access the confidential care and support provided by our friendly and highly skilled team.
Our innovative approach applies psychotherapeutic principles to devise and implement mental health services, and we partner with schools, youth offending services and advice agencies to engage and reach out to high priority groups of young people.
As well as individual therapeutic help for young people, we also offer effective intervention for families of young people in serious trouble with the law, and for parents struggling to bring up a teenager whose behaviour is out-of-control.
Our approach combines leading-edge service delivery with audit, research, and the rigorous evaluation of outcomes.
This has further enhanced our reputation as an accessible and collaborative provider of mental health and wellbeing support to young people under 25, helping them to overcome difficulties and become healthy and fulfilled young adults.
www.brandon-centre.org.uk
Amy Winehouse Foundation
The Amy Winehouse Foundation works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people.
The Foundation also aim to support, inform and inspire vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to help them reach their full potential. They do this through a range of initiatives and programmes, which include: their Resilience Programme for Schools, a groundbreaking drug & alcohol awareness and prevention programme for secondary schools; Amy’s Yard, an intensive music programme which supports the personal development of disadvantaged young people; Amy’s Place, which helps women leaving treatment for addictions to reintegrate into society with the best possible opportunity of sustaining their recovery and building a fulfilling life.
www.amywinehousefoundation.org/
Arts Emergency
Arts Emergency helps young people flourish in higher education and the cultural industries. We currently run mentoring projects in London, Brighton, Manchester, and Merseyside. Our Network members offer crucial gateways into hard to crack industries like TV, publishing and architecture.
Mentoring
We offer 16-18 year olds who are passionate about the arts and humanities a year of free mentoring. Mentors help Young Talent set goals, explore their interests and make decisions about higher education, training and careers.
Opportunities
Our volunteers have signed up to help the next generation of activists, artists and thinkers. They do this by sharing advice, opportunities and contacts. Because of them our young people can choose from a wide range of enriching activities to take part in, like set visits, theatre trips and work experience.
Community
After a young person completes their year of mentoring and turns 18, they get to join our Young Community, where we'll support them until their 26th birthday. Young Community members can make requests for advice from our network, ask for resources and free tickets, and meet other young creatives.
www.arts-emergency.org
The National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund has a critical role to play in supporting communities to unleash their energy and potential so they can get to where they want to be.
Every year, the projects we back reach more than 5 million people and help tackle things that matter, such as mental health and loneliness, providing young people with skills and employment opportunities, supporting communities’ COVID efforts and much, much more.
Our Strategy Renewal process will shape how we continue to invest in communities into the future.
www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/
Creative Mentor Network
Creative Mentor Network was built on the belief that our industries should reflect the diversity of our society.
We were founded in 2014 with the key goal to create a more accessible and inclusive future for the creative industries.
Young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are under-represented in the creative world of work. Just 12% of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds work in the creative industries, despite representing 44% of the UK population.
When we started we saw the barriers many faced in pursuing a fulfilling career in the creative industries — and the talent that the creative industries were missing out on.
Today, CMN has expanded and has helped over 1000 young people. The charity is run by our talented team, supported by expert associates and our board of trustees. Where possible we will always try and work with our growing network of engaged, talented young people and trusted partner companies within the creative industries.
www.creativementornetwork.org/
Jack Petchey
The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey CBE to inspire and motivate young people across London and Essex to do their best and reach their full potential.
www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/
NCS
NCS is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which empowers young people to build skills and confidence to get ahead in work and life. The programme is part residential and takes place over 3 weeks in the summer holidays with a choice of 12 start dates. It is broken into three parts in which participants get actively involved in the community. Upon completion, young people receive a signed certificate from the Prime Minister and have further opportunities and benefits through membership of The Challenge Society.
NCS develops young people’s leadership, teamwork and communication skills, builds confidence, increases independence, and provides experiences which are invaluable for CVs, job applications or UCAS Statements.
www.wearencs.com/
Tileyard Impact
Tileyard Impact is the work experience programme from the Tileyard studios, taking young people from local estates, schools and colleges and introducing them to real work creative industry projects This increases their experience and networks while introducing them to the creative environment.
Tileyard Impact is on a mission to champion and support independent artists and businesses by providing them with space to work and room to grow.
www.tileyard.co.uk/community/tileyard-impact/
MYBNK
MyBnk is an award winning UK charity that teaches young people how to manage their money and set up their own enterprise. We design and deliver programmes for 11-25 year olds in Schools and youth organisations.
MyBnk’s experts deliver practical enterprise experiences by giving young people access to interest-free loans and marketplaces to set up their own initiatives. We also provide financial literacy and social enterprise education with the National Citizens Service.
www.mybnk.org/
The Youth Hub
Welcome to The Youth Hub.
A central hub for the youth providing information, tools, advice and empowerment to teens and young adults.
This will involve info on employment, business, finances, health, well-being and much more.
Our aim is to be known as the go to place for information, tools, advice and become UK's leading Youth Hub.
Being a central hub we look to provide info, advice and tools across the various areas. We are qualified and specialised in recruitment and HR. We offer advice to job seekers for CV building and interview techniques. We also offer workshops, 1-2-1 mentoring and informational content.
We look to host or collaborate with others on events or workshops with others.
Our "Discussion With" podcast here to provide advice, motivation and empowerment to teens and young adults.
www.theyouthhub.co.uk/
New River College
New River College is a consortium of three alternative provisions; NRC Primary (KS1-2), NRC Secondary (KS3-4) and NRC Medical (KS1-5).
At New River College we want the very best for our pupils, so that they leave us as confident learners, prepared for further education, employment or training and in a position to make the best of their lives. We have a hard working and committed staff team who are dedicated to raising achievement and ensuring the best possible school experience for our pupils.
It is crucial that children develop the core skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in further education, employment or training, so English and Mathematics are a significant focus for the school in getting children to a level where they can succeed. We are committed however, to a rich wider curriculum, where children get numerous opportunities for first hand experiences and access to a wide range of knowledge and opportunities to develop as learners. We also want our children to understand that learning can be fun!
https://newrivercollege.co.uk
Music Education Islington
Music Education Islington is the Music Education Hub for the London Borough of Islington.
Music Education Islington is led by Islington Council and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in partnership with Music in Secondary Schools Trust and leading arts organisations and funders. It is the first Music Education Hub to be led by a local authority working with an internationally renowned conservatoire and receives funding from Arts Council England and Dame Alice Owen Foundation.
www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/children-and-young-people/music-education-islington