Social inclusion to be promoted to prisoners through music

Prisoners will have the chance to get involved in making music when a new social inclusion project gets underway in the UK's jails in March 2010.

Learning through music is a common occurrence in social care projects, particularly those involving people with learning difficulties.

An organisation called Park Street Music CIC now plans to extend the concept into the country's prisons by launching the Bird-Songs project.

The Home Office-approved scheme will involve prisoners and young offenders working in groups to learn about songwriting.

It is hoped that the process of learning about making music will help them to develop better social and communication skills.

Music industry professional and founder of Park Street Music CIC Jacqui Norton explained that many offenders are hampered by what they see as social and institutional barriers when they return to society and attempt to complete their rehabilitation.

"We hope that this unique project will help overcome some of these barriers by giving them the opportunity to work collaboratively and gain a better understanding of music and the arts," she said.

Bird-Songs will culminate with a songwriting competition, which will see the most talented prisoners given the opportunity to work with mentors and develop their skills further.

By Claire Johnson