Changing Tunes

14/10/2026

🎶 Together, we did it!

Thanks to the incredible support of everyone who donated to and shared our Joseph Studios fundraiser, we’ve reached our fundraising target.

Renovation work will begin shortly, ready for Joseph Studios to open in January 2027.

The new state-of-the-art recording space will provide somewhere for prison leavers and young people at risk of entering the justice system to develop their musical skills, build confidence and find a sense of belonging.

It will also become a creative hub for Bristol, supporting grassroots artists and partner charities using music to inspire, connect and create positive change.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make Joseph Studios a reality, and we can’t wait to show you what comes next.

🎥 This short film gives a glimpse into the people, music and purpose behind the project.

We are Changing Tunes, a charity using the power of music to help p...

12/10/2026

A shout out to our brilliant musicians 🎶

Week after week, they bring their skills, creativity and experience into our sessions, creating spaces where people can make music, learn, experiment and be heard.

They teach, encourage, listen, collaborate, improvise, troubleshoot and make an enormous amount of music along the way.

We couldn't do what we do without them.

A huge thank you to every member of the Changing Tunes team for everything you bring to the work.

09/10/2026

🏃‍♀️ Thinking about running the London Marathon?

After an unforgettable 2026, we’re continuing to welcome applications for our future teams in 2027, 2028 and 2029.

By running for Changing Tunes, you’ll be helping to support people in prisons and communities across the UK through the power of music, creativity and connection.

Whether you’re chasing a personal goal, running your first marathon, or looking to support a cause you care about, we’d love to hear from you.

📍Places are limited and applications remain open.

👉 Find out more and apply here:
https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/ct-london-marathon-team

07/10/2026

Join us for an evening of live music in Exeter!

Our Changing Tunes Exeter Annual Concert is back for its second year on Saturday 21 November.

We’ll be bringing together music and stories from across our work in Exeter during 2026, with songs and testimonials from participants alongside our Musicians-in-Residence.

It’s an opportunity to hear some brilliant live music, celebrate what participants have achieved and discover more about the work of Changing Tunes.

📅 Saturday 21 November
⏰ 7–9.30pm
📍 The Salvation Army Exeter Temple, Friars’ Gate, Exeter

Adult and child tickets are available, alongside pay-what-you-can donation tickets.

We’d love to see you there. 🎵

A Showcase evening of songs and Testimonials from participants and Musician’s-In-Residence work in 2026

06/10/2026

Behind every award is a piece of music someone chose to make. 🎶

This year, participants supported by Changing Tunes received 55 Koestler Awards for their music, spanning original songwriting, hip hop, rap and grime, instrumentals, choral music, covers and computer-generated music.

The awards range from Commended and Highly Commended through to Bronze, Silver, Gold and special awards, with work recognised from participants across the prisons, secure settings and communities where we work.

But behind those numbers are hours spent writing, playing, recording, learning and creating.

We're incredibly proud of everyone whose work was recognised this year, and of the Changing Tunes musicians who supported them along the way. ❤️

Thank you to Koestler Arts for continuing to celebrate creativity within the criminal justice system.

Find out more about our work, our team, and our partners 👇

We help people lead crime free lives through music and mentoring in prisons, secure facilities and special provision schools. We provide sessional work in CFO Hubs and post release Hubs in multiple locations across the UK

28/09/2026

Just three days left to enter our IDLES prize draw!

Throughout September, you can enter the Joseph Studios prize draw for the chance to win either a signed and framed IDLES poster or a signed IDLES Tom Drum. 🥁

All funds raised will go towards the development of Joseph Studios, a space where people who are on the margins of our community, including people who have experienced prison, exclusion or trauma, can make music safely, without judgement and together.

Choose your prize and enter before the end of September. £3 per entry.

The winner will be chosen on 1 October.

Enter here: https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/joseph-studios-prize-draw

25/09/2026

55 AWARDS! 🎶🏆

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 55 Koestler Arts awards received by participants supported by Changing Tunes this year.

Across the awards are 2 Platinum Awards, 1 Gold, 5 Silver, 3 Outstanding Debut Awards, an Under 25s Special Award, 11 Bronze Awards, 10 Highly Commended and 23 Commended Awards.

From original songwriting and hip hop to instrumental music, choral pieces and cover versions, the results showcase the creativity, commitment and talent of the people we’re privileged to make music alongside.

Participants receiving awards were supported across HMP Ashfield, Atkinson Secure Children’s Home, HMP Bullingdon, HMP Channings Wood, HMP Eastwood Park, HMP Ford, HMP Leyhill, Ilkeston Probation, HMP Swinfen Hall, Vinney Green Secure Children’s Home and HMP Wi******er, as well as participants in Bristol.

We’re grateful to the teams at each establishment and service for supporting our work and helping create opportunities for people to make and develop music.

A huge congratulations to every participant whose work was recognised. ❤️🎵

And thank you to our Musicians-in-Residence for supporting participants to develop and share their creativity, and to Koestler Arts for celebrating creative work across the criminal justice system.

Find out more about the Koestler Awards below 👇🏆

Koestler Arts inspires and supports people in the criminal justice system to engage with the arts and creativity.

23/09/2026

🎶 WIN AN IDLES PRIZE - ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENTER 🎶

Throughout September, you can enter the Joseph Studios prize draw for the chance to win either a signed and framed IDLES poster or a signed IDLES Tom Drum. 🥁

All funds raised will go towards the development of Joseph Studios, a space where people who are on the margins of our community, including people who have experienced prison, exclusion or trauma, can make music safely, without judgement and together.

Choose your prize and enter before the end of September. £3 per entry.

The winner will be chosen and contacted on 1 October.

Enter here: https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/joseph-studios-prize-draw

20/09/2026

🎥 What will Joseph Studios make possible?

We’re fundraising to create Joseph Studios, a professional recording and rehearsal space in Bristol where people affected by prison, exclusion or trauma can make music together safely and without judgement.

This short film gives a glimpse into the people, music and purpose behind the project, and why we’re raising funds to make it happen.

This month, we're running a special IDLES prize draw where all funds raised go towards the studios: https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/joseph-studios-prize-draw

We are Changing Tunes, a charity using the power of music to help p...

17/09/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Joseph Studios fundraiser last month. 🎶

The evening included a performance from Kay, a screening of our Joseph Studios film, and a speech from our CEO, Dave Jones.

We were delighted to welcome friends and supporters from across Bristol and beyond, including representatives from Trinity Arts, Noods Levels, Chaplaincy at HMP Eastwood Park, Bristol Drugs Project, Avon and Somerset Police, and Bxcellence, as well as the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Yassin Mohamud, and Lord-Lieutenant Peaches Golding.

You can support Joseph Studios this September through our prize draw, with the chance to win a signed and framed IDLES poster or a signed IDLES Tom Drum: https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/joseph-studios-prize-draw