During April and May 2026, Peterborough Cultural Alliance collaborated with the Youth Justice Service, Peterborough based artist Xidus Pain and a music producer to support young people to write, record and produce their own rap music. The project was made possible through funding from Local Youth Transformation Pilot and Arts Council England.
Flow Forward is a pilot music mentoring project for young people aged 15-18 facing barriers to education, training or work, care-experienced, or linked with youth support services. The project focused on songwriting, music production, recording and creative self-expression, providing 10 young people in Peterborough with a positive space to share their stories, explore their experiences and discover more about the professional music industry.
Participants developed technical creative and transferable life skills including communication, confidence, problem solving and collaboration. One young person, a Peterborough child in care, had been struggling with attendance in education but attended every session of this project. They came to the project with a high level of interest in music and, after engaging with project artists, gained the confidence to apply for a music course at college. Their application was supported by the music they created as part of the project, alongside references from project artists. Another young person has created powerful music based on his experiences in care and is willing to share this work with Children’s Social Care staff as part of a Q&A session.
The level of engagement was a testament to the safe and relaxed environment created by the project team. In the final studio session, participants who had never met before worked solidly for three hours on a collaborative track. They supported each other to have the confidence to perform it in front of family, friends and support workers in our final listening party.
