M came to us through Kirklees Council's Youth Justice Service. He has made amazing progress with us, working with FarangDan, and is clearly a budding and talented young musician. M's engagement with us has undoubtedly improved his confidence and his focus, and has allowed him to steer his path forwards away from activities that hurt his opportunities in life, long term. He is a bright young man and we want him to have the best chance he has at staying on the right path. More than this, though, M himself feels that music is a real lifeline.

M says it all here:

"I’d start by saying “I want more studio time” but “want” is an understatement. Music is one of the most productive ways I’ve learnt to express myself and I’ve always wanted to be able to experiment with music. Music is the solution to all my problems. Whether I feel sad, angry, happy or just feel like I’m not having the best day... I write music. It’s something I have a passion for and always had [music] to turn to when I felt incomprehensible... Now that I’ve been given the facilities to work on my craft, I feel ecstatic, but I feel I need more as music gives me something to do to stay out the way from other not so appealing things going on in my environment. I’ve felt like risking my potential and talent many times, but always had music to turn to when I felt that way. The question I ask myself now is what happens when music isn’t an option, which is why I urge you to alleviate me with more studio time, as I feel I can be successful with music and make something of my life. All my life I feared being a nobody and now I have the chance to be somebody. All I need is music - the one thing keeping me going." 

"I’d start by saying “I want more studio time” but “want” is an understatement... Music is the solution to all my problems. Whether I feel sad, angry, happy or just feel like I’m not having the best day... I write music."

Gemma Wood from Kirklees Council adds:

"M has a real talent for music. I know he wants to make a career out of it and feels that this is what the music project is all about. M comes with all his songs written, knowing which backing music to choose and just gets on the mic. I can see how much he enjoys it, but also how much passion he has for it. It is really good to see how much these sessions [with YY&M] have been helping him. Since starting with me [through Kirklees Council Youth Justice Service] and incorporating the studio time into [his] intervention, he has been even more focussed and has not come to the attention of the police."

At YY&M, we always wish the best for the young people we work with and M is no exception.