Music with detainees
What we do
We deliver music workshops in a number of the UK’s 7 Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), encouraging and empowering detainees to make music. Our workshops use drumming, percussion, singing, songwriting, dance and story, and our lead musicians are from all over the world.
Our objective is to try to get participants directly involved in the creative process, so we help both experienced musicians and novices create lyrics and music, perform and lead. We record sessions so that participants can hear their music played back immediately, and then we take the voices to the world outside through our CDs.

Sounding out at Harmondsworth IRC
Why we do it
Detention is a traumatic experience for men women and, especially sadly, still some children. Detainees have histories that are marked by dislocation and insecurity; they suffer fresh ordeals when they are locked up without knowing how long they will be there, and without being brought before a court. Detainees are segregated almost completely from the wider community, leading them to be terribly isolated as well as facing challenges to their well-being, autonomy and self-respect.
For us, music is a universal language, transcending words and available to all. Our simple premise is to improve the well-being of detainees through music. Our work enables them, among other things, to:
- express their feelings, thoughts, fears and aspirations
- strengthen their personal and cultural identity
- assert autonomy and leadership while making music
- relax and relieve their stress and depression
How we do it
We have a specialist team of musicians, trained to work with vulnerable people in the closed detention system. These highly-skilled practitioners lead 200 workshops a year, using a wide range of instruments and creative techniques to involve detainees. We have developed good working relationships with IRC staff, which enables us to go into the centres and involve as many detainees as possible in the search for personal expression through music.
Want to hear all the music?
Listen to music from detainee and community projects, view artwork and discuss!
Latest News
- Video: MID Director discusses role of arts in peace-building
27th November 2020 - Young people give new lease of life to track 'Song of Freedom'
29th October 2020 - Tune In to The Huge Hangout
8th October 2020 - Music in Detention @ GUAVA: Unbound
30th September 2020 - Mind-Blowing Album Launch!
4th September 2020