Studio giving youth a voice (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Waxworks Music Initiative is nominated

9:04am Monday 12th October 2009 in News By James Rush

The Waxworks Music Initiative works with young people to stop them becoming involved in gun, gang and knife crime.

The not-for-profit organisation helps youngsters who are, for whatever reason, socially excluded re-engage with society through music.

Set up by DJs Ed Williams and Nick Merrick in 2005, the studio in Manningham Lane works with partners including the Youth Offending Team and Bradford Council to give youngsters a focus.

Co-director Mr Williams said: “For us our whole life is consumed by music and the love of doing it, and that’s kept us out of trouble.

“It’s more about giving the youth something and finding themselves within themselves, so they don’t resort to crime.

“From dealing with us they can see the benefits that we have ourselves, from working with them.

“It undoubtedly has an effect. When we set out to do this we had grand schemes of setting up an alternative school. That hasn’t quite happened but the end results have definitely out-stripped anything we thought we would achieve.”

Just last month the organisation, which focuses on urban music, received £28,545 from a £2.3 million Home Office pot to tackle knife culture and support victims.

Some of the UK’s leading music producers and DJ talents, including drum ‘n’ bass star DJ Kitcha, a regular contributor to BBC Radio 1 shows, are involved.

One of Waxworks’ success stories is 21-year-old rapper Dorzi, who has been saved from a life of gang crime.

He has been signed by record label Rumour and in June last year the Telegraph & Argus reported how Dorzi was working with a Ministry of Sound producer. He said he had turned his life around with the help of the Waxworks studio.

Mr Williams said the organisation currently works with between 60 and 100 young people every week.

He said: “We set it up because there was nobody else doing what we do.

“It’s all about providing the skills set needed to affect young people.”

e-mail: james.rush@telegraphandargus.co.uk