* Irene Taylor Trust ‘Music in Prisons’

‘The Irene Taylor Trust has been working at the forefront of arts and rehabilitation since 1995, bringing creative music projects to men and women of all ages in prisons and in the community throughout the UK. Our work started in prisons with the Music in Prisons programme; since 2012 we have also worked in the community with ex-prisoners on the Sounding Out programme and with NEET young people on Making Tracks. The individuals we work with are some of the most socially disadvantaged and excluded, having faced a range of issues such as abuse, violence, drug abuse, mental health problems, exclusion from school and homelessness. By allowing prisoners, ex-prisoners and people at risk the freedom to create and perform music, we raise their life aspirations, enabling them to play a positive role in their communities. By providing individuals with the chance to develop new skills, both musical and personal, we offer people new opportunities and choices and the chance to move forward.‘