In 2020-21, thanks to a grant from Youth Music, SoundStorm commissioned Dr Phil Mullen, the highly respected independent music education consultant, to critically assess our offer at that time and devise for us a new, ambitious Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Phil’s work was completed in 2021 and made a number of recommendations for the period 2022-2026 to make our Hub more inclusive. You can read Phil’s full ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy’ here, which also includes a detailed, recommended. action plan.

Phil’s Strategic Priority recommendations for the Hub were all accepted, and we aim to have them implemented by 2026 if not before. We also agreed with an overall aim of targeting at least 25% of our Hub budget on musical inclusion activities by 2026.

The new Strategic Priorities we will seek to fulfil by 2026 are as follows:

Strategic Priority 1

Inclusion is embedded within SoundStorm and its partners:

• A clear vision of SoundStorm’s role in inclusion has been communicated across the conurbation.
• An understanding of music as a tool for wellbeing has been embedded within the hub and communicated across the conurbation
• The ethos of ‘inclusive creativity’ is understood and underscores the work.
• The work is supported by an inclusive community of practice.

Strategic Priority 2

Cultures, policies and procedures are developed to support inclusion and to ensure that appropriate and continuing resources, including human resources, are put in place to enable the inclusion strategy to succeed.

Strategic Priority 3

All deliverers commissioned by the hub have appropriate and sufficient skills to implement, deliver and to support musically inclusive practices with all children and young people. Holistic approaches that support participants’ wellbeing are prioritised.

 Strategic Priority 4

The work of the hub to engage in sustainable ways with new groups of children in challenging circumstances has expanded. Wherever appropriate this aligns with council priorities.

Strategic Priority 5

The offer for children with SEND has been further developed with a focus on staff development, team diversity and recording and performance opportunities for young disabled musicians.

Strategic Priority 6

The hub has substantially increased and sustained engagement with children with SEMHD with a strong general focus on music for wellbeing, as well as further engagement with those excluded or at risk of school exclusion.

Strategic Priority 7

Data is used as a driver for inclusion.

Strategic Priority 8

There is an increased emphasis on a move to long-term engagement in music and a culture of progression for all children (including those in challenging circumstances).

Strategic Priority 9

Monitoring and evaluating the level and quality of inclusion across the region is embedded and influences future strategy.

Strategic Priority 10

There is an increased engagement with the music of different cultural communities in the SoundStorm conurbation.

Strategic Priority 11

Both the commissioned workforce and the governance bodies of the hub have been diversified to include more under-represented communities.

Obviously many actions will take place before 2026. SoundStorm will implement many of Phil’s suggested ‘Key Actions’ related to these Strategic Priorities from the new Strategy, along with significant parts of his suggested ‘Action Plan’ (see the document). Updates will appear on this page at regular intervals, so please check back to see progress reports.