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Our first year in Medway

This time last year, we began a brand-new chapter as Hub Lead Organisation for Kent and Medway.

While we’d been running Medway Towns Music Centre for years, this was our first opportunity to work more widely with Medway’s schools. And we knew this wasn’t just a new contract – it was a new relationship.

Like all good relationships, it started with an open mind and a willingness to listen!

What we’ve learned

One thing became clear very quickly: Medway is full of music. We’ve seen singing assemblies, instrumental lessons, whole-school performances, and even the City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra performing to primary pupils.

We’ve been delighted to have warm, open conversations with schools across the area, with visits to 17 primary schools, 7 secondaries, and several infant and special schools. Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve felt a real appetite to keep growing Medway’s already strong musical culture.

Medway Towns Music Centre now welcomes over 200 young musicians every Saturday. With support from the Friends of Medway Towns Music Centre, more young people than ever are receiving bursaries to help them take part.

We also launched new ringfenced financial assistance for eligible students who live and study in Medway, making lessons and courses more accessible across the board.

Medway teachers themselves have been a huge highlight of our year! We ran several really successful CPD events in Medway itself, and have been delighted to welcome them to sessions in Kent as well. Overall, we’ve been blown away by their energy, creativity and willingness to grow.

Lastly this year, we welcomed Byron Primary School and Brompton Academy to our Lead Schools Advisory Group, helping guide how we support music in and beyond schools across the whole region.

What’s next?

We’ve loved learning what matters to Medway’s music community, and now we’re putting that learning into action. Here’s what’s on the way:

  • New school tuition begins this autumn at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary in Gillingham, with piano and woodwind lessons now available.
  • Music technology outreach sessions are launching in response to school feedback, led by Kent Music alumnus Noah Lock. Noah returns as a teacher after coming through Kent Music offers including Medway Towns Music Centre, Summer School and County Groups! We’ll be delivering sessions to 900 students across 13 primary schools next year, and we couldn’t be more excited! Keep an eye out for more news on this one…
  • DisQuiet, the free music club for 11–18s in Gillingham, will continue for another year thanks to Kent Music funding. It will run under a new name next year – keep an eye on the Medway Youth Centre page for updates.
  • Medway-specific financial support will continue from both the Friends of Medway Towns Music Centre and Kent Music’s own Medway-specific financial  assistance.
  • We’re investing in clear musical progression routes, working with schools and local partners to make it easier for young people to continue, progress and thrive.

Working together

It’s been a year of change, and we know change isn’t always easy. But we’ve been heartened by the passion, creativity and enthusiasm we’ve encountered from everyone in Medway. We’re excited to collaborate, to learn, and to help local music education and music makers of all kinds flourish in the years to come.

Here’s to year two!