Look Ahead Housing and Care

The New London Orchestra has been providing participatory music projects for residents at Look Ahead Housing & Care centres since 2004 at both its Kean Street and Luton Road sites. Both these centres provides long-term accommodation and 24 hour support for residents with enduring mental ill-health. Look Ahead Housing and Care Luton Road has been involved in Newham Welcomes the World since the project began in 2007: *  in 2007 performing 'The Journey Begins' with local children at ExCel * in 2008 performing 'The Journey Begins' with schools from Royal Docks area in a performance at St John's Church, Stratford * in 2009 Luton Road football team in 'In Training', working with New London Orchestra musicians to create a team anthem which will then be performed at an evening concert along with other sports teams from Newham at the Stratford Rex.

"The workshops were a really great opportunity for service users who would otherwise have been isolated in their rooms to come together and interact with each other in a positive way." Project support worker, Kean Street "Thank you for a truly inspiring and moving event last night. Everyone I spoke to was very impressed, and felt you had produced a work that really reflected community involvement. Look Ahead was delighted to be involved, and it was wonderful to see how much it meant to the customers to take part." Tessa Fitzjohn, Arts Programme Manager, Look Ahead Housing and Care "I think it was a marvellous occasion and our customers and families are still talking about it. They have gained so much from this experience, confidence, singing in front of over 1000 people, and value in themselves seeing that they can do something so positive. Working with the schools has also broken barriers as the children were initially scared but got used to us and did not seem threatened by customers in the end. All in all a very positive inclusive result. " Feizal Rajabally, Contract Manager, Look Ahead Housing and Care, Luton Road.