Isle of Wight Creative Hub Fosters Young Musical Talent

“I’ve been coming here for three years. I feel on top of the world every time I sing,” states Brandon, 14, during a rehearsal break with his band, Smile. He is located in the converted crypt of a former church on the Isle of Wight. Describing the venue, Brandon explains: “It’s called Aspire, it’s a creative hub in Ryde for people to come and do music and have a good time.” This music club receives partial funding from contributions to BBC Children in Need. The crypt space is equipped with numerous musical instruments and recording gear, with expert instructors available to provide lessons. Meme Cullen, the manager, observed: “Some of them come from poor families and have financial difficulties. Some have issues and struggles with certain diagnoses that they’re dealing with.” She added, “A lot of our young people find it hard to find a place where they belong and we kind of are that space here for them. They call this their second home.” Cullen further emphasized the importance of funding, stating: “If it was not for BBC Children in Need we would not be able to fund all of these projects that we deliver, we wouldn’t have half of the equipment that we have.” She concluded by expressing gratitude: “It goes a long way, so a massive thank you to Children in Need.” Ruby, who is learning to play bass guitar, shared her experience: “It’s got me out of my box in a way that I didn’t think I could have gotten out my box,” adding, “I’m still a very quiet person but a lot less timid around new people, I think.” Tanya, a fourteen-year-old from Ukraine, also participates in sessions at the club. “I came here about two months ago. I’m really enjoying being here,” she remarked, encouraging others with: “Just come, don’t worry about anything, just do what you like.” Jess Ong, a music practitioner, noted: “A lot of the time when young bands start they might not be confident enough to sing by themselves on the stage, so we’ll sing with them.” She affirmed their commitment: “We’ll support them musically until they don’t need us anymore.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.