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Annual Report
About YWMP
YWMP provides an inclusive, supportive space for young women, trans and non-binary people to get together to make music, learn new skills, express themselves, and grow in confidence. We are based in Oxford, with a focus on working with young people aged 14-25 years old. We’re much more than a charity, or a music project: we’re a supportive community.
YWMP has worked with hundreds of young people across Oxfordshire in a range of settings, building partnerships with schools, pupil referral units, hospitals, and organisations working with vulnerable young people.
YWMP’s Director Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani
Outreach This year we have focussed on outreach running recording sessions and tasters in Rose Hill Youth Club, Chillworth House, Oxford Academy and Oxford Spires Academy Schools whi h h d l t f l h i it YWMP H S S (2 participants joined in an performed at the Sheldonian); Oxfordshire Youth Youth In Mind conference (captured the day in a soundscape working with artists Iman Mahdy and Beth Shearsby). Training: 4 x Risograph training with commonbooks.org and the staff team; Arts Award Advisor, Cargo Bike, Educator and Facilitator training. Job Opportunities: 5 facilitators and educators; 3 WINGS staff; 5 Artists; 7 workshop leaders.
YWMP Hangouts
YWMP Hangouts are for women, trans and non-binary people aged 14-25. All sessions are free with no experience necessary. Young people come to hang out and discuss different topics led by our session educators. Topics have ranged from the history of NU Metal, to spotlighting some of our favourite talents in the music industry like Phoebe Bridgers.
We had 16 sessions with 25 young people.
"A safe place to be myself" - YWMP attendee
Hannah Fredsgaard-Jones
Songwriting Sessions
A group of young people took a 6 week course on song writing with Hannah aka Asthmatic Harp who is currently a BOOM artist with OCM Events and a Round House London Resident Artist Alumni. She led these sessions on collaborative song writing by looking to different forms of creative inspiration and sharing ideas with each other.
Protecting Your Pages with Megan Henwood
6 weeks of weekly sessions where the group of young people really got to know each other ! They have worked closely on how to open up vulnerability when writing lyrics as well as taking on some lessons in protecting their music in the industry. We are going to continue the work with some 1-2-1 recording sessions for each participant to release in 2023.
YWMP Takeover @OVADA
On Saturday 12th March, YWMP hosted an all day event at OVADA gallery to celebrate 'Resistance and Resilience': our exploration of the experiences of the young people, leaders and workers involved in grassroots music projects and our collective vision for transforming local music scenes. STATS: 300 people attendees, 7 workshops, 1 mural, 1 exhibition of drawings, 1 film screening, 6 performances, and the launch of the resilience and resistance film, EP and zine.
WINGS
It's been a really busy year for Wings! In addition to making over 250 deliveries to households who need sanitary resources around Oxford, we've also supported the Oxford City Council's motion to make period products available across the city! We're so proud to have been an inspiration and a motivator for this cause that the council members voted to pass during our visit to the chambers.
WINGS 1st Birthday
no longer have to worry
running out of sanitary pads"
a Wings recipient
"I
about
-
deliveries 30+ volunteers 35+ recipients
At Wings, we've also spent the past year setting up new donation points; hiring more wonderful members of staff and celebrating our first birthday! We're so happy to have spent a whole year providing families with the items they need and forever advocating for everyone's right to sanitary supplies. 265+
with 100+ more on our books STATS:
YWMP Strategy Day
YWMP hosted a vision dinner at SILVIE as a chance for our YWMP community to get together and get motivated. We went over the projects her story and worked together with our community to explore how we move forward with our language, mission and visual in the future.
We're about to embark on a new journey, and hearing ideas and thoughts from our supporters was super inspiring. We have a long way to go consulting past members and working closely with our new participants to create a new vision for the project so watch this space!
"Friendly space, kind people" - YWMP attendee
Event Highlights
Panel Discussion at Oxford Brookes University
Shiva Feskari - Sampling the City: 5 young people attended and participated in the workshop as well as the performance at the Sheldonian Theatre.
Divine Schism 10 Year Anniversary: we helped program performers with the event that took place accross multiple venues on the Cowley Road.
Event Highlights
Goodbye Fusion Arts Event Fundraiser for YWMP by Divine Schism
2 x talks at Truck Festival: Zahra, Ithar and Faustine delivered 2 talks at the festival about power, privilege, accessibility and dismantling sexism in the music industry.
Testimonials
"It means I can spend some time doing things I love for example singing!"
"To me it means a chance to sing and do what you love"
"A powerful, safe space to nurture through creativity" "So much. The support and encouragement. Sharing skills and ideas" "A safe community space to explore parts of music"
What does YWMP mean to you?
With Special thanks to... Some of our funders and supporters: Reva and Logan Foundation Youth Music Oxford City Council Oxford Contemporary Music Divine Schism Fusion Arts