Appeal for musicians to help people who have experienced homelessness

A SOUTHAMPTON centre which supports people who have experienced homelessness to rebuild their lives, is asking local musicians for their help.

The Booth Centre Lifehouse which is on Oxford Street is looking for volunteers who can run music sessions for its residents.

The Salvation Army-run centre is also appealing for donations of percussion instruments, such as bongos, tambourines and maracas - which the residents can learn to play.

 Adele Stephen from the Booth Centre Lifehouse says:

“A big part of the work we do with our residents here is helping them to re-build their confidence and self-esteem and we’ve found that getting them to play and enjoy music is a great way of doing that.

“Whether it’s challenging someone to learn to play two chords on guitar or banging a drum to keep a rhythm, it gives our residents – many of who will not have played a musical instrument before in their lives, a tremendous sense of self-achievement and pride.”

She adds:

“But we need gifted volunteers to help us to do this and that’s why we’re putting out this appeal today to musicians in the Southampton area. If anyone would like to come along and mentor our residents by sharing their enthusiasm and talent for music with them, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you

“We also need percussion instruments so if anyone has some old maracas, bongos or triangles they don’t need any more, please do contact us.” 

Anyone who is interested in volunteering at the Booth Centre or in donating percussion instruments should send an email to cliff.exell@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Booth Centre has a fully-equipped music room with an electronic drum kit; electric, acoustic and bass guitars; amplifiers and microphones and DJ decks.

It also has a facility where residents can create and produce their own electronic music.

The Booth Centre Lifehouse is at 57 Oxford Street in Southampton.