Case studies - consultancy services
Project: Beyond the Will Smith Challenge
Area: Brent
Funding: £9,542 (2004-5) and £9,965 (2005-06)
Funding body: Living Learning Grant
The 'Beyond the Will Smith Challenge' was a five month project providing a Connected+ music and media industry course to seven long term unemployed BAME beneficiaries. The course included training in business start up and marketing for the music industry.
Funded by a Living Learning grant the project held 14 classroom based sessions, one-to one support, plus a music technology session where participants wrote and recorded a song and a final showcase. Topics included copyright, publishing, contract, marketing, income streams, media, and event management.
The RARPA approach was used to record progress made such as increased self confidence and greater awareness of individual strengths and weaknesses and skills gained.
For their second project, similar training was delivered for two days a week to 12 BAME learners. Some beneficiaries have reported they would like to progress onto accredited courses. 'Beyond the Will Smith Challenge' has noted this, and is investigating the possibility of having its own courses accredited.
One beneficiary is now looking to produce their own music, one has linked with a producer who was a guest speaker on the course to produce her music, two have progressed onto self-employment, one learner is now engaged in voluntary work and a further learner is actively seeking work in radio. Two beneficiaries are looking into possible work experience offered by one of the guest speakers.