Finding Rhythms

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Finding Rhythms We use music as a catalyst to empower people to change their lives.

“It's clear that this work is much more than just a nice idea” – Sophie Haewood, The Times

Finding Rhythms is the result of the meeting of minds of Robin Harris and Emily Vermont; their drive to help people find their rhythm in life through music. Our aim is to bring the possibility of expression and realisation of talents to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. We believe that music and an opportunity for creative expression can be key to a person’s well-being and quality of life. Whether or not it brings food to the table, studies have shown that practicing something like music can vastly improve one’s chances of leading a productive existence, holding down meaningful employment, maintaining relationships and avoiding drugs and crime. "They say prison is to make you a better person — how can I be a better person when I can't get no music in?" - Inmate, HMP High Down

🎉Funder Focus: L&Q Social Value Fund🎉We’re delighted to share that L&Q Social Value Fund has awarded Finding Rhythms £10...
25/09/2026

🎉Funder Focus: L&Q Social Value Fund🎉

We’re delighted to share that L&Q Social Value Fund has awarded Finding Rhythms £10,000 to support Finding Rhythms Studio.

Finding Rhythms Studio offers free one-to-one music-making sessions for people at risk of offending or leaving prison. Working with a professional producer in South London, participants have the time and space to create and record music that is entirely their own.

The programme offers more than studio time. Participants can develop creative and technical skills, work towards a qualification from The King's Trust and access mentoring and employability support. For many, making music is also a chance to express themselves, build confidence and begin to see new possibilities for their future.

Support like this helps us keep those opportunities free and accessible. We’re incredibly grateful to L&Q Social Value Fund for investing in Finding Rhythms Studio and in the people who come through its doors.

Thank you, L&Q Social Value Fund, for being part of our journey.🙌🎶

Today, our Programme Manager, Catherine and Executive Director, Katie headed to the Southbank Centre for the Creative He...
18/09/2026

Today, our Programme Manager, Catherine and Executive Director, Katie headed to the Southbank Centre for the Creative Health Assembly.

The event brought together cultural and community organisations, health workers, artists and young people to explore how creativity can play a greater role in supporting young people’s mental health.

It forms part of a six-month consultation around the development of a new Creative Health Youth Centre at the Southbank Centre, which will provide year-round creative opportunities for young people aged 10–25, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, wellbeing and tackling health inequalities.

These are conversations that feel incredibly relevant to our work at Finding Rhythms. We see first-hand the role creativity can play in giving young people space to express themselves, build confidence, develop connections and find their voice.

We were also very proud to see our trustee, Dr Ron, speaking as part of the Assembly and contributing his expertise to the conversation.

A brilliant day of ideas, conversations and connections - and exciting to see creative health being given the space and attention it deserves!🙌🎶

17/09/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that participants supported through Finding Rhythms projects have received 19 awards in the 2026 Koestler Arts Awards.

These awards belong to the participants.

They recognise their music, their words, their ideas and their creativity. We’re privileged to have played a part in helping bring that creativity to light.

This year’s recognition includes:

HMP Woodhill - Show Me - Gold Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP High Down - Yorkshire People - Platinum Award (Computer Generated Music)

HMP High Down - Defensive Wall - Highly Commended (Spoken Word)

HMP Bristol - General Alarm - Platinum Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Bristol - Didn’t Care - Highly Commended Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Aylesbury - Make A Change - Commended Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Aylesbury - Bad Move - Silver Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Aylesbury - Inshallah - Commended Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Aylesbury - Nightmares - Silver Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Aylesbury - Rockstar - Bronze Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

Katherine Price Hughes House AP - Secrets - Bronze Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Feltham - Days In The Wok - Under 25’s Special Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Feltham - Days Come - Highly Commended Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

HMP Brixton - Senorita - Highly Commended Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

FR Studio - Matt Zappa - Highly Commended Award (Instrumental)

FR Studio - Ronnie Pickering - Silver Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

FR Studio - Follow Me - Silver Award (Singer Songwriter - Original)

FR Studio - Hard Heads - Bronze Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

FR Studio - 2026 Intro - Bronze Award (Hip Hop, Rap and Grime)

The Koestler Awards celebrate creative achievement across the criminal justice system, giving people an opportunity to have their work seen, heard and recognised.

To every participant whose work received an award this year: congratulations.

We’re incredibly proud to have supported you in creating and sharing your music.

You can access the full playlist in our bio now!🙌🎶

14/09/2026

“All I see is a Queen.”👑

Trailblazers Mentoring & Finding Rhythms turns TWO!🎂🎉

This week, we’ll be sharing two videos about an extra special mentoring pairing between the wonderful Yemi, featured in this video, and the extroardinarily talent Finding Rhythms’ participant, Yasmine, who you’ll hear from later this week.

Mentoring is something that can have a profound impact on both the mentor and the mentee, offering learning opportunity for both parties.

Here’s what Trailblazers’ Project Manager (and Yasmine’s mentor), Yemi, had to say about our partnership and her mentoring experience.🙌

A wonderful day well spent at the Women's Prison Ministry in the UK Women’s Conference today!Our incredible Finding Rh...
11/09/2026

A wonderful day well spent at the Women's Prison Ministry in the UK Women’s Conference today!

Our incredible Finding Rhythms programme participant, Shanice (aka P Nut) performed for the attendees, showcasing the quality of musical talent that comes through our studio.

We are always grateful for the opportunity to attend industry events like these, having the opportunity to learn more about what other organisations in the space are doing, as well as share more about our work, too.

A massive well done to Shanice for absolutely smashing her performance and thank you to the IMAGO DEI team for making us feel so welcome!🙌🎶

On Tuesday, three of our musicians, George, Nathan and George, joined our Programme Manager, Catherine for a fun-filled ...
10/09/2026

On Tuesday, three of our musicians, George, Nathan and George, joined our Programme Manager, Catherine for a fun-filled day of football, food (and the Great British weather!) at HMP Feltham.

The day saw the men housed at Feltham play alongside Prison staff, as well our team and other teams from many more external organisations doing great work inside our prisons.

Events like these provide an excellent chance to improve team skills, learn how to manage conflict in a light hearted environment and give the men chance to network with multiple organisations like Finding Rhythms who are providing training and employment opportunities both inside the prison and upon release.

Thank you to the team at HMP Feltham for hosting us for the day. Our musicians are already talking about how they can return next year with a strengthened team!😅⚽

Studio Rising is officially underway.👑Last night, we welcomed the first three young people into the studio for the very ...
04/09/2026

Studio Rising is officially underway.👑

Last night, we welcomed the first three young people into the studio for the very first session of our new youth music programme, led by Finding Rhythms musician, George Bakare.

Studio Rising is a new Finding Rhythms programme for 14–17-year-olds in Southwark who are at risk of - or already involved in - the criminal justice system.

Supported by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (London's Violence Reduction Unit), the programme gives young people the opportunity to work one-to-one with a professional music producer, creating and recording their own music in a safe, supportive space.

Six young people have joined our first cohort, referred through Southwark Youth Justice and Social Work teams. Over the coming months, they’ll have space to explore their ideas and experiences through music, develop new skills and work towards a The King’s Trust | Free Courses & Job Support qualification in Personal Development and Employability Skills.

The launch follows outreach work with SpeakerBox over the summer, when we ran two days of music taster sessions with looked-after children in Southwark, reaching a further six young people.

For some, this might be their first time in a professional studio - or even the first time writing their own music.

Welcome to Studio Rising.🔥🎶

Today, our Programme Coordinator, Clara, spent the morning at HMP Bronzefield, attending a job fair organised by their w...
03/09/2026

Today, our Programme Coordinator, Clara, spent the morning at HMP Bronzefield, attending a job fair organised by their wonderful Prison Employment Lead, Polly Roberts.

Clara met dozens of fantastic women, had the opportunity to introduce them to Finding Rhythms (and even listen to some tracks!), and caught up with many of the other organisations working towards supporting women upon release.

Events like this are great for raising awareness of what we do - especially amongst potential new female participants - and for networking with referral partners offering employment opportunities.

A huge thanks to Polly and the team at HMP Bronzefield for having us!🙌🎶

NEW MUSIC(ian)🔥Meet George Bakare! George will be working on our new youth programme, Studio Rising, launching in the co...
31/08/2026

NEW MUSIC(ian)🔥

Meet George Bakare!

George will be working on our new youth programme, Studio Rising, launching in the coming weeks!

George has made a fantastic impression already, having already worked on another of our programmes, and we are so excited to see what he produces with the young people in our first Studio Rising cohort.

We asked George some questions about his experience working with Finding Rhythms so far and here’s what he had to say…

(Instrumental from one of the tracks George produced!🎶🙌)

Last week, we had the privilege of being invited by Koestler Arts to help select the music for their annual exhibition a...
26/08/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of being invited by Koestler Arts to help select the music for their annual exhibition at the Southbank Centre Centre.

Our Programme Manager, Catherine, was joined by two Finding Rhythms participants, Yasmine and Sanjay, where they got to work picking a variety of music across a range of different genres, artists and establishments.

For the first time in the show’s history, the artworks have been selected by members of the (PIC) Parental Imprisonment Collective (PIC), a group of young adults with experience of a parent in prison during childhood. PIC are supported by Young Ambassadors from Prison Advice and Care Trust and Care Trust (Pact), a leading charity working with children and families affected by parental imprisonment.

Bringing together five different perspectives, the curators have created an exhibition that invites audiences to look beyond assumptions about imprisonment and consider the complex human stories behind the artworks.

This year’s curators hope visitors will reconsider what it means to have a parent in prison, while also recognising that people in criminal justice settings are not defined solely by their circumstances or their sentence.

The exhibition highlights the complexity of individual experiences, revealing stories of creativity, imagination, humour, vulnerability and hope.

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” runs from 16th October until 29th November in the Undercroft and presents artworks submitted to the 2026 Koestler Arts Awards, the UK’s longest-running national arts awards programme for work made in prisons, secure hospitals, young offender institutions and by people on probation.

Entry to the exhibition is free and we’d really encourage anyone in our network to take the trip along to see some truly incredible pieces.

A huge thanks to Koestler Arts for having us!🙌🎶

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