On the 27th May this year, The Turning Tides Project hosted a Radio Project Workshop funded by the Okehampton Lions Club at the Pavilion in the Park with the aim of creating our own radio show. We were lucky enough to be joined by Dan Rose who runs the local online radio station in Okehampton, MoorFm.

Participants were given a really good chance to see how a radio show works, like the layout and how everything is meticulously on time and on schedule, to getting the right recording levels. We then came up with a plan for the very first Turning Tides Radio Vibe Show, we decided it should include songs written by the Turning Tides Project participants, songs they personally like and record them introducing these songs, a sing-along with the participants and an interview we had planned prior to the workshop day. The interview was with a member of the local council, Christine Marsh, who is also the ex-mayor of Okehampton. Jennifer wanted to interview her, so we we helped create some questions on important topics that she could ask her. We then had a play around with microphones and recorded some introductions that could be used on the show. Christine Marsh then joined us for her interview with Jennifer which went really well.

After the workshop day I took charge of making the radio show, and needed the help of the Turning Tides Project participants to complete it. During various Turning Tides activities, the participants were given the opportunity of choosing their favourite songs that they would like to air on the radio. They were asked if they would like to introduce these songs so we recorded introduction for most of the songs which included who they were, what the song was called and why they chose it. For most, this was the first time they had heard themselves back via a recording so it was an enjoyable process. Once I had all the recordings and songs needed, I had the task of piecing it all together which is something I have never done before. I have learned a lot of skills through this project and now my aim is to involve the participants even more by helping me in the editing side of the radio show and to try to involve as many people in the surrounding areas too!

So don't forget, The Turning Tides Radio Vibe show will be airing on Moor FM.co.uk for the first time at 6pm on Wednesday the 29th July and then on every last Wednesday of the month so please tune in.

Written by Jake Hooper, Published by Dom Palfreman

Hi there folks,

We are excited to announce the launch of our own radio show on local community radio station moorfm.
Please find attached a poster with the launch event details. We would be delighted if you could join us at the event on Wednesday 29th July at the Pavilion in the Park, if not, please do listen online at 6pm visit  www.moorfm.co.uk  to tune in.

The Turning Tides Radio Vibe will become a monthly show on moorfm and will be broadcast on the last Wednesday of every month at 6pm. It will be repeated on several occasions throughout the month.
If you would like to find out more or book a place at our launch event please let me know either via email or call 07853366040 .

We would be grateful if you could share these event details with others.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the Pavilion.

Kind regards,
Vicky Hooper The Turning Tides Project

Written by Vicky Hooper, Published by Dom Palfreman

Last week HJ forwarded to me this Blog, published on The Youth Music Network site in June. She was keen to know if it was anything to do with me (I published a book called Music and The Social Model in May 2012): it wasn't and I was really excited to see it.

The Social Model view is that Disability is created by the way society treats difference; we're all responsible for that. The more people that enter the conversation and take action to address the inequality faced by people who are 'different' the bigger the change we'll make in the world and that has to be good news. So.... I thought I should respond to the Blog's invitation to share some personal experiences of Music and The Social Model and, since the Youth Music Blog had been published several weeks ago, I thought I'd start by seeing who else had joined the conversation; I Googled Music and The Social Model.

I was a bit disappointed to see that most of what I got back referred to my book: it seems the conversation hasn't gone viral yet. What will it take to make Equality in Music this year's hot topic??? 

I noticed a recent review that I hadn't seen and decided I'd read it: I'd like to thank the author for clarifying for me exactly the points I'd like to make in this Blog.

I DID NOT  'acquire musical training in order to introduce musical therapy into my work with people with learning disabilities'. Music is an essential part of what it is to be human. Music is a huge part of my life. Many people, by virtue of the labels ascribed to them by others, have little or no access to music. To deny access to music is to disable.

I am NOT a Music Therapist; I do NOT offer Music Therapy.

Music of course has therapeutic value for us all but the people with 'learning disability' or 'autism' labels who are part of the life of The Turning Tides Project do not have a label that says they are ill or broken, and they don't need fixing. The 'disability' they experience is down to a society where people imagine that they do. Browse the website and you will find many examples of their creativity, originality, humour and talent.

Just begin from an assumption of ability. It's not rocket science and it's not the realms of an elite professional niche. Music belongs to everyone and should be accessible to everyone. Everything (from choosing a CD, going to a Gig, learning an Instrument, writing a song, playing in a band, DJing, editing recordings (the list is endless) is possible in an enabling environment .

The impact of inclusion, whether musical or non-musical, is a huge benefit to the whole community; it is not a one way street. Exclusion is deeply rooted in our society and remains acceptable, ' we don't want to set people up to fail', ' we would offer music lessons to people with additional needs but no one with additional needs has ever asked us for them', 'we don't need this music venue to be accessible... no one in a wheelchair ever comes'...

All, believe it or not, comments that have been made to me in the last year. People who exist in a society that routinely gives them the message that they are not able are unlikely to be bashing the door down demanding their right to access. We will change that by assuming ability and ensuring that that equal access runs through everything we do in our society.

Disability is everyone's business. We are all responsible for removing the barriers that create it. We are each responsible to be the change we'd like to see in the world.

Written by Jane Williams, Published by Dom Palfreman

Bear with me on this one as it is not really a TTTP update...

I have spent a couple of hours this afternoon looking for things in pop culture to do with the abolition of labels and the questioning of their real purpose. Some say it's because people like to belong and like to have a category. Some say it's about being able to categorise your first impressions of others. Nearly everything is about prejudice and about categorising people or things - something that is qualitative being turned into something quantitative. And I don't like that.

Anyway, please watch this video in full:

So, I don't know about you but I do not want to be a product and I do not want to be labelled at all.

There's much more to a person than their labels. Every person deserves much more than 7 seconds.
If I told you before you watched the video that it is a marketing video for Coca-Cola would you have watched it? Imagine it isn't, and go and have a green tea to celebrate that a big multinational is questioning the use of labels as part of its advertising campaign.

Maybe now's a good time to question why you label people or why you hold onto your own labels? Let me know what you think.

Written by Dominic Palfreman who has thrown away his labels (and doesn't drink Coke).

The #InclusiveCrediton logo, used for the Saturday session at Lords Meadow leisure Centre  was designed by the Turning Tides Friday Session.

We love it.

The Saturday session is a partnership between Active Devon, Mid Devon Leisure, The Turning Tides Project, Living Options and Upstream. #InclusiveCrediton aims to Create an Inclusive Environment, where everyone can participate.We'd like that to be a reality in every environment in our community so... You'll be seeing a lot more of #InclusiveCrediton and #Inclusive.

Each partner organisation will be using it to highlight community events, resources and opportunities that are Inclusive.

If you'd like your organisation, or a community resource you access, to be recognised as  #Inclusive contact The Turning Tides Project, Living Options, Upstream, Active Devon or MidDevon Leisure.
Perhaps your community will go down in history as the first #Inclusive in the country.

Be the change you'd like to see in the world.

Written by Jane Williams, Published by Dom Palfreman

Dear All,

The Turning Tides Project has had an amazing first year which ended with our Birthday Party and our presence at The Exeter Respect Festival: we enjoyed both enormously. You can find out more about them futher down this Blog page.

I’d like to share with you some of our plans for the coming year...

This blog is coming directly to you because you (or the organisation you represent) have been directly involved with the work of The Turning Tides Project (TTTP) in some way. Some parts of the newsletter will be more relevant to you than others, perhaps, but The Turning Tides Project’s success depends on the interaction between each area so it felt important that I shared the whole with you all.

The Tudor Trust
Firstly, I am thrilled to be able to tell you that we have been successful in gaining core funding for the next three years from The Tudor Trust. The Trust has been extremely positive and supportive about TTT, and that encouragement is priceless: A huge thanks to The Tudor Trust. On a practical level the funding means that we can now move forward with our plans to develop TTTP as a sustainable Community Interest Company.

The Turning Tides Project at Arnos Vale
You may also have already seen (on the blog section of our website) an announcement that we were successful in securing a Grants for The Arts. This grant is for a specific music-led performance project at Arnos Vale, in Bristol and started last week.

This is an exciting and important commissioned work for TTTP: there are many and varied opportunities for people to get involved in this project. The Turning Tides Project at Arnos Vale has its own (very new) space on our web page.

#InclusiveCrediton
The collaborative #inclusivecrediton project is now in full sail, and being very positively received. You’ll find details on our Sessions page and our Blogs and also on the pages of both Active Devon and Mid Devon Leisure.

We’d like to develop the use of the #Inclusive logo to mark our other initiatives, projects and collaborations too: so do look out for it.

The Turning Tides Project Web Site
We have begun some work to develop our web site. We’ll be focusing on developing its accessibility and also its role in promoting and advertising our work. The website received over 27,000 visitors in its first year.

The web site now has a shop window: if you’d like a copy of our debut CD you can get it here – and if you already have one and are waiting for the booklet to go with it, it’s now available here as a free download.

TTTP Training Workshops
Our first set of training workshops, designed, developed and delivered by people with and without ‘learning disability’ or ‘autism’ are now available.

If you’d like more information about what packages to book places on workshops or book a workshops specifically for your organisation, do get in touch. We’d also like to hear your ideas about what subjects you think should be the focus of the next packages we develop.

EPIC
We are currently reviewing our development plan for EPIC. Let us know your thoughts about what happens next and keep an eye on the EPIC space on the web page and the TTTP Blog: we’ll announce our next steps here.

The Turning Tides Radio Vibe
We are about to launch a monthly Radio show on, and in collaboration with, MoorFM. The Radio show will have its own beautiful project space on the web site. Details of the launch and the time and date of the first show will be published as a Blog, within the next two weeks.

Getting involved in all or any aspect of the radio show will be a brilliant opportunity to learn some new skills whilst having a lot of fun: as with all TTTP activities, its #Inclusive, so if you’d like to be involved, get in touch.

Pub Jams
The Okehampton Pub Jam is proving to be a big success. We’ve just secured some funding for a similar Pub Jam in Crediton and are currently negotiating to secure a venue. The aim is to start the Crediton Pub Jam in August – so keep an eye on the session’s page and the Blog: we’ll announce the launch here as soon as the details are agreed.

We’ll be at Okehampton Food and Drink Festival on 6th July: we have a stall and busking space in the Arcade. Come and say hello.

We also have big plans for the Okehampton Carnival in October. There’ll be a number of workshops to create our entry – so watch out for those and come and join in.

Over the coming months we will be developing a number of voluntary, sessional, employment and educational opportunities for people with and without ‘learning disability’ or ‘autism’ labels. Details will be available on the web site.

If you’d like to be involved in any of the work of The Turning Tides Project, we’d love to hear from you.

We will be contacting some of you directly over the next few weeks to share ideas about the way that we work together.

Finally, Thank you: We’ve received a huge amount of support, encouragement and enthusiasm from you all in the last year and it’s been very much appreciated.

With best wishes Jane Williams, Director of The Turning Tides Project

Written by Jane Williams, Published by Dominic Palfreman