Backdoor Music Project Wins National Award

Date published: 14/06/2006

Her Majesty The Queen announced on 30 April 2002 the creation of a new, annual Award to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee.

The Award recognises the vital role played by the hundreds of thousands of "unsung heroes’ of the voluntary and community world and emphasises the importance of continuing recognition of their work.

Four years on, and The Backdoor Music Project has been named one of the winners 

The Backdoor Music Project was set up by local residents in response to the lack of music and arts provision for young people in the Rochdale Borough. The Project provides socially excluded young people with the opportunity to take part in music events and coaching sessions, encouraging them to develop their musical skills and self esteem.

Over 300 young people are currently involved with the Project, which offers both workshops and practical advice to artists and bands looking to break in to music professionally.

The Project also organises events throughout the year for new, unsigned bands to showcase their music. These events and workshops offer local young people the opportunity to develop their music skills and self-confidence, often performing in front of an audience for the first time.

The Project also offers local young people recreational provision on Friday evenings, ensuring they have somewhere to go that is both productive and engaging.

Young people are deeply involved in the Project, and are able to voice their opinion through an advisory committee. This responsibility is helping to combat the problems of anti-social and criminal behaviour in the local area, which includes wards recognised as being in the top 10% deprived areas in the UK. 

Members of the advisory committee are involved in the planning and delivery of events and workshops, and are supported by a network of volunteers on the Project’s management committee who ensure the Project is available to as many young people as possible.

The Project is funded entirely by donation, and volunteers work closely with local Youth Services and Connexions. They are also now working with local Councillors and the Township Council to create a new venue for under 18’s in the borough.

Co-ordinator Carol Moore said: "We couldn’t quite believe it when we found out we had won the Award. Everyone thinks it is a really fantastic honour for a community project such as ourselves, which is run completely by volunteers. 

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported or been involved with the Backdoor Music Project, in particular Nasser Afzal at the Economic and Community Affairs Unit who nominated us and  Beate Mielemeier, Rochdale Arts Development Office who has supported us from our early days.

"We are looking forward to our new venue as are all the young people involved. It has been a lot of hard work but we will get there".