Emerging Voices: Working with Women in the UK Criminal Justice System

Working with women within the UK criminal justice system requires community music practitioners to adjust their facilitation methods in order to work effectively and with sensitivity towards participants within this challenging context. Adopting gender-responsive and trauma-informed practice is key in building constructive relationships within which creativity can flourish. This chapter will examine the singing and songwriting project, Emerging Voices, that has developed out of the York St. John University Prison Partnership Project. The foundational concepts of trauma-informed community music practice will be explored both as an ideology and form of practice. In conclusion, emerging themes include; improved emotional wellbeing; personal and creative skills development; and creation of positive social cohesion