The Turning Tides Project believes that everyone has the right to equal access to music, the arts and life.

We intend to make this right a reality for people with 'learning disability' or 'autism' labels in Devon. The Turning Tides Project is a Community Interest Company; a non-profit organisation. Our focus is on the work that we do and the difference that we make.

We seek to demonstrate the application of a Social Model Approach in everything we do… and we don’t do anything unless we think it might be fun.
The support and development of an Equal Access Workforce is critical to the maintenance and development of a healthy TTP.
An excellent Workforce Development Approach is essential to any healthy organisation.
In January 2018 The Turning Tides Project (TTTP) began to map a workforce development route that would:

• Enable anyone who was part of TTTP to plan and navigate their own development
• Support everyone who was part of TTTP to convert their career aspirations into achievements
• Provide TTTP with a skilled workforce that understood and applied a Social Model Approach
• Enable TTTP to continue to grow without compromising on the quality of the work it does or the principles that underpin that work.

The Turning Tides Project Equal Access Workforce Development Approach applies our aim and our principles. We’ve defined our Workforce Development Process, designed and tested some tools to support it and are now gradually collating critical appraisals of resources that meet the learning and development needs of an Equal Access Workforce. 
This is a brief summary of the work we’ve done so far, some links to the detail that you can now find on our web site and an invitation for you to get involved in what we do next.

People arrive with us from different places, with different knowledge, experience, different aspirations and backgrounds. If its equal access then it needs to be a route that can start anywhere. The route sets out a whole pathway from participant to CE, within TTTP or to a high profile position of national and international influence.

We strongly believe that in an #Inclusive environment, everyone is capable of anything they really want to do and are prepared to work hard to achieve. An Equal Access Workforce Development Approach supports the creation of that #inclusive environment

1. Starts from where people are

2. Looks at what they bring with them

3. Uses a reflective questionnaire to frame discussions about skills, knowledge and development needs

4. Provides an inventory of resources available to meet learning and development needs

5. Provides a critical appraisal of each resource, in terms of its support of or compatibility with taking a Social Model Approach.

The Turning Tides Project is explicit about its commitment to taking a Social Model Approach. It’s essential that the people who are part of TTTP understand what that means and demonstrate that understanding in every action they take: The healthy growth of TTTP is dependent upon that.
Our critical appraisal is not solely about the quality of the huge and growing range of learning and development resources available. It’s about whether those resources support or, at least, are compatible with a Social Model Approach by asking the questions that we think are critical to establishing that.
 
We are sure that the work we’re doing has a much wider relevance and applicability to the:

• Development of the Equal Access workforce
• Aim to create a Musically Inclusive society.

You can follow the whole journey by starting here:
www.theturningtidesproject.org.uk/developing_our_workforce.html
And the music specific component by starting here:
www.theturningtidesproject.org.uk/equal-access-music-leaders-pilot.html

Do you have comments about the process we’ve defined or the tools we’ve developed?

Would you like to offer appraisals of resources not yet on our map, so we can add them?

Would you like to add more information or links to a resource we’ve appraised?

Do you want to tell us about a resource you offer?

Please get in touch:
www.theturningtidesproject.org.uk/contact-us.html

Everything The Turning Tides Project does is open and inclusive.
We do what we do because we intend to make a difference.
If you would like to use any of our materials you are welcome to do so but please acknowledge TTTPs ownership.

See the change, be the change, make the change – thank you!

Written by Jane Williams, Published by Dominic Palfreman

As recently promised, a further look into Tom's CME course and qualification as an Inclusive Practitioner.

We talked a lot about the course and Tom's views and experiences, and tried to shorten it down into 'Podcast-sized chunks'... we think we nearly achieved that, and involved the Tuesday Making Waves group and the Friday Music Session group in creating what we have recorded below.

There are a number of points, some of which are explored and revisited. Reflection is an important part of the work we deliver and are involved in - this is no exception.

Since having these conversations, Hugo has now begun his Inclusive Practitioner course!

Interviewers: Dominic Palfreman, Otis Butterfield, Lewis Rutley and Alix Mason
Interviewee: Tomas Burns