Vocalized
Vocalized is a free after‑school music programme for young people aged 11–19, designed to build confidence, wellbeing, and self‑esteem through music. Delivered by three professional music industry tutors, the programme runs across three local venues.
Young people choose to focus on band development, music production, or vocals, and work alongside their peers and tutors to develop skills or try something completely new. With creative control and guidance from tutors, they create original work to perform at the final Vocalized Showcase. The programme concludes with all participants coming together to perform at a local music venue in front of family, friends, and the wider community.
Vocalized supports young people to build skills, confidence, and creative expression, while offering insight into potential music industry pathways and a platform to showcase their talent.
Vocalized 2025
Vocalized 2025 was a highly successful programme, engaging both returning and new young people in a creative, supportive environment. Many participants came back from previous years, highlighting the lasting impact and positive experiences the programme offers, while new young people joined through targeted promotion and recommendations from their peers.
This year saw a real growth in confidence, with young people creating and performing original music, exploring new styles, and working together through peer‑led collaborations. These creative connections often continued beyond the sessions themselves, showing how Vocalized supports young people to see themselves as artists and collaborators. The programme was strengthened by strong partnerships, with support from National Youth Arts Trust, Grandma’s Studio, and local schools, helping to provide a professional, inspiring setting where young people could develop their skills and express their creativity.
“‘I liked the sense of community it included me in, it also allowed me to develop deeper connections with my friends - who were in my band, as well as get closer with people i didn’t know as well before. I participated last year as well, and honestly until i can’t anymore i’ll continue signing up.’”
“‘Being with my friends and peers and being able to play altogether has made me become closer to my classmates and talk to new people in my school.’”
“‘I have never felt so confident as I did when I performed at Vocalized.’ ”
This programme aims to encourage participants to:
learn and develop new musical skills
improve emotional wellbeing
increase confidence both in their chosen field and generally
learn a music piece and perform to family and friends at the end of the programme
overcome stage fright and anxiety
develop natural vocal abilities and sense of rhythm
learn about stage presence and storytelling in performing
Impact
118
young people
participated in 2025
90%
learnt new skills
93%
increased confidence
90%
had a positive effect on other areas of their life after taking part in Vocalized
79%
improved relationships with others
Young people rated the programme 4.83/5 for how much they enjoyed it
80%
maintained their interest in the creative arts following the end of the project
Vocalized Xtra
Vocalized Xtra is a free, week‑long half‑term music programme for young people aged 13–19, designed to build skills, confidence, and pathways into the music industry.
Building on the success of Vocalized, the programme gives young people the chance to experience the full creative journey, from developing an idea to recording original music. Participants can choose to form bands or focus on music production, working in ways that suit their interests and creativity. By the end of the programme, young people had learnt new skills, reported increased confidence, and made new friends or strengthened relationships.
The programme finishes with a professional recording studio session, where young people record their own music alongside a studio engineer — often their first experience of a professional creative environment. Vocalized Xtra also has a lasting impact, with participants becoming more interested in a career in the music industry, while supporting wellbeing, self‑belief, and creative expression in a positive, inclusive space.
Band Development programme
The Band Development pilot programme was created in response to the success of Vocalized Xtra and the strong potential shown by emerging young bands. In 2025, the pilot engaged young people, offering a clear progression route for those ready to develop their practice and move towards more professional music‑making.
Through weekly rehearsals led by an experienced Band Development tutor, participants worked collaboratively to create original music, writing their own tracks and learning new skills about the music industry. The programme also had a strong personal impact, with young people reporting increased confidence and making new friends or strengthened relationships.
The programme finishes with a professional studio recording of three to five original tracks, giving young people a powerful sense of achievement and something tangible to take forward.
DJ Workshops
The DJ workshops ran over seven weeks, taking young people from the basics to performing live on stage. Participants built DJ skills step by step, from mixing and track selection to creating full sets while growing in confidence, teamwork and creative independence. The programme ended with a powerful finale at Nightlife, where every young person performed a live DJ set to an audience of over 400 people. For many, it was their first time on stage and a huge confidence boost, offering a real taste of performance and careers in live music.
“‘It was really beneficial and helpful as well as fun. I learnt new skills about production and working in teams as well as volunteers inspiring me. Lorna, Roxi and Esa were very helpful and nice. they have helped me a lot in confidence and skill.’ ”
Case study
Finding her voice on stage: EE’s journey with Vocalized
EE, 17, chose to join the Vocalized project after seeing it promoted, driven by her love of singing and a desire to improve her voice. Although she’d always wanted to perform, she lacked confidence and had never sung in front of an audience before. At the time, EE was also dealing with challenges at home, which affected her emotional wellbeing and made things at school more difficult.
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When she joined the programme, EE was clear about her goal, she wanted to “feel confident singing in front of other people”. She also shared that she felt her voice was “different” and didn’t always fit in, which made her doubt herself.
Throughout the project, EE remained committed and professional, even when things felt tough outside of sessions. Her main barrier wasn’t talent, but confidence. With consistent encouragement and positive feedback from staff, there was a noticeable shift. EE began to believe in herself, engage more fully, and take creative risks she would previously have avoided.
That growth came together in a powerful way at the final performance at the Tabernacle. Although she was nervous beforehand, once EE stepped onto the stage, her confidence shone through. She delivered a strong solo performance that exceeded her own expectations and marked a huge personal achievement.
Reflecting afterwards, EE said:
“I can’t believe I actually did that. I believe in myself now - it was so much fun.”
EE’s journey shows how a supportive creative programme can help young people build confidence, find their voice, and realise they’re capable of more than they think.
Contact
Damilola Rowe
Team Manager
vocalized@youthactionalliance.org
Previous Vocalized
To see previous Vocalized click here.