Do Your Own Thing -
Youth Music Report 2024
How we evaluate what we do at Do Your Own Thing
We collect lots of different information to evaluate Do Your Own Thing. Some of this is called quantitive data* that tells us how many people are coming each month, how many people are new and how many people keep coming back to the project. We also count the amount of songs written and recorded in each session and who is making that music.
We then focus a lot of attention to more informal qualitative data** like testimonials from the young people (where possible), feedback from parents and carers and extensive debriefs with session leaders, staff and volunteers at the end of each session.
This all helps us track people’s progress and make adjustments to what we do to best support people.
*quantitive data = numbers (for example how many people come each month)
** qualitative data = words (for example what people tell us they enjoy or don’t enjoy)
The quantitive data can show us the progression and development of the project as a whole. For example we have consistently high numbers with an average of 44 people taking part each month. The lowest was 28 in August during Summer Holidays and the highest was 58 in March. This shows us that we communicated what we do well because people know about the project.
We also have a lot of people that keep coming back, 23 people have attended 10 or more times in 2024. Which demonstrates to us that people enjoy what we offer at Do Your Own Thing.
This information however can’t tell us the individual, personal and highly nuanced experiences of people that take part. It also can’t tell us much of how someone’s experience sits in context to the rest of their lives.
What people tell us about their experiences can help build a better picture of what is happening within the project. Some young people have limited communication so we rely on observations and feedback from those around them, like session leaders, staff, volunteers, parents and carers to help make assessments of someone’s experience.
Musical outcomes
Over the past 12 months 69 original songs and compositions have been written and recorded in sessions at DYOT. This took place in -
12 Live room jam sessions
12 Studio recording sessions
6 song writing sessions
We also explored using music to engage with people in -
12 DJing sessions
6 experimental sensory sessions
We also had 1 club Squid Ink for DJs to perform at and a live event at Do Your Own Thing for musicians to perform at. Both are important moments for people to develop their musical journeys.
Case Study
“We were thrilled that Heart n Soul supported A in having the DJ opportunity at Squid Ink. We were incredibly proud of how he rose to the occasion. A has been working with Bid over the monthly sessions at Do Your Own Thing, and despite his learning and concentration challenges, he has truly begun to grasp the role of a DJ in a way we haven’t seen with other activities.
I couldn't believe how well he responded and how much understanding he seemed to have of what he was there to do! This is in large part to the investment Heart n Soul have put into A over the years at Do Your Own Thing and then giving him this opportunity to then put in place in public at Squid Ink.
It was amazing to see how Heart n Soul engaged A through technology and the excitement of music. A is very self directed and seeing him participate and interact with an activity led by someone else is absolutely fantastic. This has also coincided with improved concentration at school and better self-regulation, so it's been such a positive experience!”
Listen
There has been a real range of musical styles and expression contained within the music made at DYOT. From loving fried chicken to how autism impacts on people’s lives. There were also many songs reflecting on DYOT itself.
31 group songs were recorded in the live room and 38 solo or small group songs in the studio.
“Without DYOT l would not have the freedom to learn new skills and express myself!"
Young person quote
Parent Quote
“We as parents have observed that DYOT has helped our daughter to be more confident, learn new instruments, show case her talents and generally happier in herself. Staff at DYOT are the most enthusiastic and happiest staff we've come across - happy to do their job and seems to have a genuine interest in supporting people with challenges. Thank you all.”
“Our son has been inspired to create more of his own music”
Parent quote
Parent Quote
“DYOT is unique it has given our son the feeling of independence, expression and freedom that Neurotypical people have. He looks forward to DYOT and creating music with peers. It has given him a sense of pride in himself.”
Session leader Quote
“Emmett came and played the bass, he tried to strum it so I gave him the open tuned guitar and he was away, basically running the session. He started the groove and we followed him. Archie on drums like a metronome. Really good communication between the old people and new. Karel on the microphone and Lola was listening. Prince was doing their thing. Xaviour was amazing - Jane was brilliant helping out singing, clapping was just really nice. A really beautiful session.”
“Chapman’s parents said that from last time has been practising improvisation because he wanted to play with the group.”
Session leader Quote
Session leader Quote
“Arthur was really really good. He’s very musical, his rhythm and his melodic playing choosing notes and stuff was really good. Much quieter group making all these tunes. When we had a break Arthur asked - where are these tunes from? We just made them all! Went really well.”
Personal outcomes
The past 12 months has seen a better balance and spread over the 10-25 age range we cater for.
of 105 people that attended:
49 were under 18
25 of those were under 15
This demonstrates to us that the younger people are able to feel more confident and take up space at Do Your Own Thing.
We still have some improvements to make overall with our gender balance.
69 of participants identified as male
36 identified as female or non-binary
However this does roughly fit with the 60/40 split of male/female people with learning disabilities in the borough.
In the 1:1 studio though 26 songs were produced by male young people and 15 by female or non-binary young people.
Which for us is a good sign that the female and non-binary young people attending are confident to make their ideas happen.
Listen
The October session recordings are a good example of how the different sessions support people to express themselves, collaborate and perform.
One participant Samantha recorded two songs in the studio, one collaborating with another young person Aisla - where they spoke of their own personal experiences. She then took one of these songs to the live music group to play as well as collaborating with another participant, Paul, on a song about Do Your Own Thing.
Chapman, who originally came to Do Your Own thing keen to show off his skills on the piano, performing classical and Jazz pieces he knew. He now brings original compositions to record, the example here ‘My Calling’ is a beautiful song about his journey as a musician. He now also embraces the opportunity to improvise with the larger group, practicing his techniques at home.
The October playlist also contains a song that Sonny performed with the live group and a studio song from Maksim. Sonny struggles to stay in sessions for a long time but the rest of the group supported him by performing a backing track he could improvise along with. The studio for Maksim has opened up a whole new way to create and express himself, bringing the drawings he makes in the art group to life and then using these to make music videos for the songs he records.
“It is the only club that accepts me for who I am and where I can truly be myself.“
Young person quote
Parent Quote
“It gives my son a brilliant chance to engage in creative activities and socialisation once a month, an opportunity to meet peers and be part of the community and a creative network”
“Helps my child to be the best he can be and develop a range of skills (independence, creativity, confidence, exploration, having fun, making more friends and finding different ways to express themselves.”
Parent quote
Session leader Quote
“The younger lot are coming more regularly. Working together was great - more confidence. Flowed nicely. Sessions really different from each other, different people, nice to have a change and space for other people. Aisla was great, so good at playing keyboard and drums, really good rhythm, good musicality. Worked really well with all the different music opportunities so the room doesn’t get so busy, less flow and more focus”
“Arthur was really apprehensive at the start but then made the whole spooky chicken song himself. Was great.”
Session leader Quote
“Leo was - wow! Hadn’t really got much confidence to start with but now is really confident.”
Session leader Quote
Social outcomes
We asked the young people and their support what Do Your Own Thing has helped people with. Out of 29 responses -
25 said it helped them make new friends and socialise
26 said it had helped them feel part of a community.
One thing especially in the past year for us that indicates a good social outcome was the older DJs moving over for the less experienced DJs to perform at SQUID INK. Giving space for a new generation of Do Your Own Thing to come through.
These older DJs then attended the club so they could show their support for these younger DJs, which demonstrated to us a real maturity from them.
One of these less experienced DJs, Tilley, when she first joined in February 2023 she almost couldn't walk into the room because she was so intimidated. At Squid ink this year she did a 30 minute set and was jumping up and down and MCing, telling everyone to dance!
“Without Do Your Own Thing my life would not be as full as l have met some wonderful friendly and supportive people.”
Parent Quote
“Jacob feels part of his community the Special needs world, he has shared So many fantastic experiences made so many friends and going to do your own thing has given him a real sense of worth”
Young person quote
“It helps me to be a more community. I tell for my future DJing, it will be good to be featured in tour”
Young person quote
Parent quote
“A time to socialise and meet new people. Something to look forward to. A safe space for the neurodiverse to feel comfortable, creative and free.”
“It makes me happy and allow me to make more new friends.”
Young person Quote
The last thing we’d like to share is one of the best ways for us to assess the project as a whole. We do that through what is being created and this is all documented and shared through a private dedicated web page the Young People named the…