Heavy Sound

Heavy Sound provides a safe, nurturing environment that supports the wellbeing of young people and adults so that they can:

• meaningfully navigate social engagement and relationships
• constructively manage how they feel
• participate in interest-based music and biking projects, physical activity, and various other creative pursuits
• positively re-engage in learning 
• receive mentorship and throughcare from the criminal justice system back into the community
• access post-secondary education placements, work experience and employment opportunities  

We work with some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and adults in areas of multiple deprivation across Edinburgh & Lothian’s.  We are well embedded in the communities in which we work and for over 5 years have been delivering projects in mainstream and non-mainstream schools and communities, from our Community Reach & Inclusion Bus (a 40ft single decker bus converted into an alternative classroom), and from our premises in East Lothian. 

The majority of young people we work with struggle with the current education system as they lack focus due to trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences, are unable to engage in formal learning and have difficulty in building trusting relationships. Heavy Sound has developed an additional curriculum, that is delivered from our premises during the school day, in partnership with local schools. We re-engage young people through innovative projects involving music (hip hop, rapping, song writing, DJ’ing, electronic music production and sound recording), boxing (teaching skills in sport, fitness, nutrition, keeping safe, conflict resolution), biking (bike activities, bike maintenance qualifications) and mentoring (building positive relationships). All participants engage in skills development courses through which we better life chances by awarding recognised qualifications and create person centred pathways to further education, training and employment. 

Heavy Sound’s lived experience adult mentoring service supports residents in HMP Edinburgh returning to East Lothian on liberation; East Lothian residents liberated on unplanned release; residents on remand; and adults involved in the criminal justice system in East Lothian.
We build relationships and offer person-centred, trauma-responsive support for individual's identified needs, including mental health, substance misuse, homelessness and benefits.