Inner Trust Counselling - Crewe

Laura Armitage

Spencer has delivered a range of sessions for learners at our school, both face-to-face prior to the pandemic and virtual since. He has always been keen to ensure his sessions provide meaningful opportunities for, and are accessible to, our students. It’s been a pleasure working with Spencer and we look forward to working with him again in the future.

Lisa Nixon

Spencer organised a fantastic evening of interactive fun and entertainment for the group I support. All young people are 15 up to 21 years and have a disability. His gentle approach is to include each person, to find out what music they enjoy and how it makes them feel when they listen. It was so lovely to see some of our young people opening up about there emotions, something that many find hard to do. Spencer has an amazing back drop set - banners appearing across the screen with writing which can be personalised, say for a particular birthday or specail occasion.
Spencer is able to adapt to whatever you want. Next time we will be having a full on disco even if it is from a distance at the moment you can still enjoy the vibe and meet with all your friends.

Safe Opportunities

Spencer gives excellent support to our students, he supports our Exploring work programme and delivers a very inspiring session to our students which helps them to understand the range of career options available to them.

Glen Williams

The Bromley Farm Musical Minds DJ Project delivered by Inner Trust since December 2018 has provided a different exciting opportunity for young people from the Bromley Farm neighbourhood in Congleton.

The launch event in December and then the monthly sessions during 2019 have attracted some of our regular youth club members and enticed new young people to get involved.

The workshops have introduced young people to Music and DJing in a fun, colourful and inviting space. It has helped to develop confidence and self-belief. Those young people who have become reasonably competent have helped others to improve their skills and work as a team. The equipment and Spencer has given young people the opportunity to make music with other children together in a fun music jam. They have experimented with playing, making, recording music and creative drawing ideas in synergy with each other, increasing stimulation and giving a sense of belonging and connectedness.

The workshops have been positively received by young people and there has been much positive feedback. It has attracted previously hard to reach young people who have now also become regulars at our other youth provision. There has been good rapport and relationships have been built.

Young people have been very creative and a wide range of music has been chosen and mixed with some weird and unusual sounds being heard.

The project has attracted a good gender and age mix and this has helped to bring down barriers between different age groups on the estate. Some young people have attended due to referrals from Cheshire East Youth Support Service and Cheshire Police. Both organisations have attended some of the sessions.

There have been a number of notable outcomes from the project so far with:
• Increase in confidence and inner self-belief that together they can achieve.
• Empowerment and Engagement at all levels with all abilities with good team working and increase in resilience.
• Space being transformed that is fun and safe and free from judgement and a break from the outside world.
• Place of belonging where they have expressed themselves through music and art.
• Harnessing of enthusiasm and excess energy in a focussed way.
• Helping to encourage good social behaviour.

Glen Williams, Bromley Farm Youth Club Manager who is working with Spencer from The Inner Trust said ‘We have been excited that this new opportunity is working well for young people from the Bromley Farm neighbourhood. As part of our NRG Youth Project and regular youth club sessions we have added this new offer which young people have responded very well to. Those who have previously caused anti-social behaviour or bullying have engaged in a very rewarding way and have gained a number of skills and attributes from the monthly sessions’.

Glen Williams added ‘Our regular well established youth clubs have evolved over the last few years and it is really gratifying that such an opportunity has been offered to creative young people from the neighbourhood. We believe that the Music, DJ and Arts workshops have benefited a large range of young people currently in the local area. This has included some of those who have been harder to reach in the past, but been attracted to engage with this project’.
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Cassie Smith who has attended the workshops said ‘It was amazing, I got really into it and it was lots of fun. I hope to be coming back and hopefully join in a DJ challenge’.

Lorenzo Gatta who has also attended said ‘It was awesome; I certainly want to do it again’.

Glen Williams
Bromley Farm Youth Club Manager
Congleton

Emily Reid

A fantastic organisation that has offered support to my primary school. They have run excellent virtual sessions with a focus on music and wellbeing, as well as providing DJ workshops in school. I would highly recommend Inner Trust if you are looking to develop your arts, culture and creativity offer in your school.

Alfie Black

Spencer provides high quality, professional and wonderful sessions at a great price. A real pleasure to work with.

Jan Melia