Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood IRC

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Children at Beauchamp Middle School recorded questions for the Yarl’s Wood detainees. The children were impressed by Gigh’s level of English and also the other languages she knew!

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. This song is from Foroogh’s cultural origin.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. 

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Children at Beauchamp Middle School recorded questions for the Yarl’s Wood detainees. Christy explains that individuals at the IRC support one another and pray a lot. 

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. An introduction is given at the beginning of the track that this song was written by a musician in Nigeria. It begins a cappella and is joined by body percussion (clicking) and a drum beat.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. The songs were taught to the children at Beauchamp Middle School the following day. Both the children and the detainees recorded themselves drumming and singing. This song is about feeling safe with Jesus.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Children at Beauchamp Middle School recorded questions for the Yarl’s Wood detainees. It is touching that Dylan and Gigh share laugher. She tells him about meeting people who smile despite their struggles.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees and children were encouraged to play around with the structure of this song, originally by Bill Withers, to make their own arrangements, including introductions, solos, break-downs and instrumental parts. The arrangements were built up later using a computer sequencer.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Children at Beauchamp Middle School recorded questions for the Yarl’s Wood detainees. Brandon’s question is answered by two women, who both talk about their university studies and wanting to help people in similar situations to themselves.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. 

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Most of the musical sessions were started off with a round of body percussion (using only bodies and voices to make music!) in order to emphasise the importance of keeping a steady pulse so all musicians are synchronised with each other. Afterwards they moved on to hand drumming and everybody was given a chance to solo. Everybody had a go and many people found it was a big confidence boost!

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

Children at Beauchamp Middle School recorded questions for the Yarl’s Wood detainees. Temi describes how difficult she found it when she first arrived, but now she feels more comfortable and has friends and activities to keep her occupied.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. The following day they were taught to the school children, so they could learn the detainees’ songs. On this track, a group of women sing the chorus together at the end.

CD: Beauchamp Middle School meets Yarl's Wood; Music Provider: Asian Music Circuit

A project with detainees at Yarl's Wood IRC and a group of pupils from Beauchamp Middle School in Bedford.

The detainees were asked to bring along songs they knew so everybody could learn them and sing them together. The following day they were taught to the school children, and they were recorded drumming and singing. The detainees were then recorded over the top, drumming and singing.