Young performers $KR and ZZK represented the project at One Leicester’s Black History Month celebration at the Haymarket Shopping Centre on a Saturday afternoon, accompanied by Youth Worker and Community Development Officer Aaron.
The pair performed and shared work developed through Powering On’s weekly music and performance sessions, held every Tuesday. The programme gives young people opportunities to explore their creativity, learn new skills, build confidence and make their voices heard.
Creative skills with wider benefits
Powering On uses song writing, music production, beat-making and live performance to help young people develop practical skills for education, employment and everyday life.
Song writing encourages participants to communicate ideas clearly and express themselves creatively. Those abilities can also support tasks such as writing job applications, CVs, cover letters and other professional communications.
Music production and beat-making introduce young people to technology and digital creativity, helping them become more confident using tools that increasingly shape education, work and communication.
Confidence on stage
Live performance is a key part of the programme. Standing before an audience and sharing original work can strengthen confidence, communication and self-expression.
These skills can also help young people in job interviews, conversations with professionals and other situations where they need to speak clearly and confidently.
For $KR and ZZK, the Black History Month celebration was a chance to take what they had learned in the Tuesday sessions into a wider community setting.
Community connections
Music and performance also give young people a positive setting in which to meet others, collaborate and build meaningful relationships.
Regular creative sessions and appearances at live events allow participants to work as a team, form lasting connections and become part of wider community networks.
The invitation from One Leicester gave the young performers an opportunity to contribute to a public celebration and share their work with the wider community.
Giving young people a voice
The programme is built around giving young people opportunities to express themselves and be heard.
By combining creative practice with community opportunities, the project helps participants build confidence, communication and digital skills alongside relationships and networks that can support their futures.
Leicestershire Cares congratulated $KR and ZZK on representing Powering On and thanked One Leicester for providing a platform for young people to showcase their creativity.
The appearance highlighted how music, performance and community events can help young people develop skills, build connections and share their work with new audiences.