The Forest of Dean is set to welcome a dynamic and inclusive music venue and recording studio, dedicated to nurturing young talent - The Forest Community Music Hub.

Local charity The Music Works was founded in the Forest of Dean back in 2004 and are now excited to come back to their roots to "help give young people in the Forest an amazing space that will give them things to do, make new friends and feel proud of the place that they live".

The Music Works has already achieved an impressive milestone, raising £850,000 towards this transformative project. With their sights set on an early 2024 opening, the charity is now launching an online crowdfunding campaign appealing to the community to help raise £15,000 to make the Forest Community Music Hub in Cinderford a reality.

With their sights set on an early 2024 opening, the charity is now launching an online crowdfunding campaign appealing to the community to help secure the remaining funds of £15,000. 

Katie Dainty, head of marketing at The Music Works, said: "We would love the community to really get behind this project and help bridge the final funding gap to make this Forest of Dean space a reality. Any donation, no matter what size is welcome."

The state-of-the-art music facility will provide activities, training, events, and jobs for the community.

The Music Works started nearly 20 years ago as Forest of Dean Music Makers. Since then it has been dedicated to empowering young people and using the power of music to develop their confidence and self-belief.

The Music Works works with over 4,000 young people a year and sees the difference music makes to them all the time. It provides activities for everyone - from those who just want to listen to music with their friends to those who want to have a career in the industry.

A 2021 survey of young people in the Forest of Dean found that for nearly three quarters of them music is their number one thing but most of them feel there is nowhere for them to go to make it or listen to it.

"So we want to come back to our roots and help give young people in the Forest an amazing space that will give them things to do, make new friends and feel proud of the place that they live."

The Music Works has spent the last year working with local young people to design the Forest Music Hub. Cinderford Town Council kindly leased them on a peppercorn rent the old HSBC bank right in the centre of Cinderford.

The facilities at The Hub will be really high quality, industry standard that means a high standard of music recording can be achieved but also young people will gain skills as engineers, producers that can be transferred all over the country. The inspiring, eco-friendly, and professional space that spans 1,537 square feet and includes:

• A production room and broadcasting room for producing, radio, podcasting
• A live studio and sensory room: for rehearsals as well as specialist equipment so that disabled young people can make music
• A music equipment store to help lend out equipment
• An outdoor performance and social area
• An office/collaboration space
• A social/workspace area
• A digital suite
• A changing places toilet with a hoist and changing platform, providing an inclusive restroom for the entire Cinderford community

The Hub will provide activities for young people and the community in the Forest, including:

• Targeted provision: Personalised one-to-one music mentoring that is used to support young people with mental health challenges, or who are disengaged from school or who have additional needs.
• After-school, evening, weekend, and holiday activities: Band development sessions, music production courses, vocal sessions,
• Artist development and creative careers: Mentoring, industry talks, networking, and collaboration with local and national organizations to offer work experience and career opportunities.
• Community performances: Showcasing young talent in front of local audiences and expanding the events programme across the Forest
• Community outreach: Taking music to isolated areas through our Mobile Music Bus
• Community use: Affordable rental space for artists, bands, and DJs, providing employment opportunities for our young studio engineers.

While the Forest Hub is in Cinderford, the Music Works will use their Music Bus and their partnership with Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership to reach the wider Forest community.

To go to the Crowdfunder page, visit The Forest Community Music Hub - a Music crowdfunding project in Cinderford by The Music Works