Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Sunderland Music Hub is committed to building an inclusive music education offer where all children and young people in Sunderland have equitable access to a music education.

An inclusive music offer supports the development and achievement of each child or young person based on their individual needs, abilities and interests. It celebrates the unique, individual contribution each child makes and ensures that all children and young people have the opportunity to make informed choices over their music education.

Aims

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) run through all that Sunderland Music Hub does. Our core aims and their outcomes are:

1. To promote a life-long love of music through opportunities to play an instrument, sing, to perform and through access to high-quality music experiences.

• • • Children and young people discover their own musical potential
    • Progression routes are available, accessible, affordable and achievable for all children and young people in Sunderland
    • Children and young people take leadership roles and are involved in decision making

2. To promote inclusive music activity that unlocks musical potential and ensures all young people – regardless of background, circumstance, musical interest, and skill level – have the opportunity to experience music-making activity.

• • • Widened access to music-making for communities across Sunderland
    • More diverse representation in music-making activity
    • Children and young people are able to make informed choices about their music education journey
    • Raised aspirations for children and young people in the city

 3. To ensure the wellbeing benefits of music-making activity are celebrated and that projects are designed with wellbeing in mind.

• • • Raised confidence, self-esteem and resilience of children and young people
    • Better health outcomes for children and young people
    • An increase in music activity programmed by non-music organisations to promote health and wellbeing

 4. To develop and nurture strong partnerships of music education organisations, schools, and other partners to address the wider partnership vision and aims.

• • • Partner organisations, including schools, are equipped to deliver a music programme that is bespoke to and meets the needs of children and young people
    • More high-quality, relevant music-making activity programmed by partners that responds to need
    • A well-trained, high-quality, music education workforce operating across the city
    • A more diverse workforce that reflects the children and young people we serve

 Strategic Priorities

1. To develop a culture of inclusion through policies and procedures that ensure appropriate resources are put in place to achieve musical inclusion.
2. To develop the workforce of SMH staff, freelancers and potential new workforce so that musical inclusion good practice is shared and adopted by the team.
3. To work with partners in the community so that musical inclusion can be embedded into their delivery plans to achieve their aims and so that those who already deliver music activity do so in an inclusive way.
4. To work with partners in schools – classroom teachers, music leads, Heads, governors, SENCOs and other staff members – to ensure that music education in school is inclusive. Particular focus on ensuring schools understand the barriers that children may face to participation and to access music-making, and how an effective Remissions Policy and use of targeted musical interventions can work to overcome these barriers.
5. To expand our offer for children with SEND both in and out of school.
6. To expand our offer for children and young people who experience social, emotional and mental health needs with a particular focus on working with children in PRUs and APs and children who are cared for and care experienced.
7. To expand our work with children who experience socio-economic deprivation, ensuring opportunities and progression routes are affordable, accessible, achievable and appropriate both in and out of school.
8. To work to ensure children from all backgrounds are welcomed and catered for in the city’s ensembles and community music groups.
9. To work to promote a diverse curriculum including diverse listening materials, diverse genres and an understanding of the cultural history and heritage of different pieces of music and musicians.

Sunderland Music Hub’s full Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy can be read here.