Growing up in a military family has sometimes made life extra challenging for Beth and Jack. The Connect-Create project, run by The Hive in Shrewsbury, has helped them develop musical skills, make new friends and meet other young people in the same situation.
It’s hard enough for a young person when your family moves house: new school, new friends and an unfamiliar community. But if you grow up in an armed forces family, you may have to keep moving every couple of years.
Beth, 15, and Jack, 11, live at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, with their dad (a serving soldier) and their mum Jo. Life on a military base can be lonely, miles away from the nearest town or village. Then there’s the extra worry of a family member away from home for long periods, regularly risking their life.
I don’t really have any friends around camp, and my friends from school live in a different town and don’t really come here.
Finding support and making connections
The Hive runs a programme of holiday workshops, bringing together families living in barracks with their local community in a fun and supportive atmosphere. The Connect-Create project has given local young people the chance to develop musical skills, make friends, gain confidence and find out about other opportunities in the community.
Beth and Jack began going along to the music-making workshops right from the start of Connect-Create. Soon it became a family affair, with mum Jo coming along too. She’s a member of the Shawbury Military Wives Choir, who were invited to take part in the project as volunteers.
Facing multiple challenges
The Hive invited a local young carers group to take part in the workshops: young people facing similar problems of isolation to military children. It transpired that Beth and Jack are also carers for Jo, who has severe neurological and physical health issues.
As a result of meeting other young carers, they’ve now joined Shropshire Young Carers, which has opened up lots more opportunities for them to develop skills, have respite time and build new friendships.
Beth says: “Before the music project, I had a boring life. Now I’ve made lots of new friends, who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’m much more confident, and I’ve met other young people in the same situation as me through Young Carers."
I can’t really talk to friends who aren’t in the same position as me, but they understand, because they’re going through the same.
So many positives for the family
Jack’s had great fun on the project too: “I got the chance to play drums, I’d never done that before… The best bit for me was performing in front of people at a theatre, some bits made me feel a bit nervous but I was really excited and proud.”
And Jo adds: “It’s really given them a different perspective. Singing is a really important part of Beth’s life now: she’s taking lessons, and has been offered a placement for work experience with The Hive where she’ll learn more about working in the arts.”
Because of the friends we’ve made, and the sense of belonging, it’s become a really special place for us.
Case study researched and written by Anita Holford: writing-services.co.uk
Connect-Create
Hear more from young people, parents and music educators about the difference Connect-Create has made to local families’ lives.