AudioActive’s SHIFT programme
Using music as a gateway for change
Published
Funded and evaluated by the Youth Endowment Fund, SHIFT is a six-month music mentoring programme supporting young people at risk of exclusion or offending. Delivered across six sites in East and West Sussex, the programme run by AudioActive pairs young people with trained music mentors – active artists and youth workers – to build trust, break down barriers and support positive change.
Music is the starting point, not the end goal. Through consistent one-to-one mentoring, SHIFT aims to help young people strengthen their sense of identity, improve behaviour and relationships, and support their wellbeing — all with the aim of reducing offending.
On average, mentoring programmes have a moderate impact on reducing children and young people’s involvement in violence and crime. There is limited evidence of the impact of arts-based programmes on offending, but combining mentoring with music-making could enhance young people’s social and emotional skills and encourage them to engage. Through a rigorous evaluation with the Youth Endowment Fund, AudioActive is helping to build the evidence base in this area.
Learn more about SHIFT from the team at AudioActive
SHIFT has evolved
Originally a 12-week programme, SHIFT was extended to be delivered over a 6-month period as part of the Youth Endowment Fund–funded evaluation. This longer timeframe aims to allow mentors to provide more consistent, meaningful support and respond better to the complex needs of young people.
Strong relationships start from the very first contact.
SHIFT’s onboarding process is designed to set young people up for success. First impressions matter, particularly for young people who may not have experienced consistent or trusted adult relationships before. SHIFT prioritises openness and honesty from day one – being clear about the programme’s purpose and intentions, while aiming to create a welcoming, respectful space to begin building trust.
Music opens the door to trust and deeper connection
Music is the hook that helps break down walls. Mentors bring a different vibe — one rooted in culture, creativity and shared experience — making it easier for young people to engage and build trusting relationships.
Writing music creates space for young people to express themselves. Sessions often begin light-hearted, but as relationships develop, the work naturally deepens. Over time, mentors can unpack lyrics and ideas together with young people, opening up more honest conversations and stronger connections. Through this process, music helps foster a sense of belonging — and a foundation for meaningful change.
Mentors aim to bring more than musical skill – they bring trust, culture and lived experience
Senior Music Leader and SHIFT mentor Bobbie reflects on the role of youth work and being a trusted adult for young people who may not have had that support elsewhere. Rooted in the music scene, Bobbie uses music as a way to connect, helping young people channel their energy into something positive and meaningful.
A mentor and mentee story
Through one-to-one mentoring, young people build confidence, develop new skills and learn positive ways to manage behaviour — using music as a creative outlet. In this film, follow a SHIFT participant as he works with his mentor, from making beats to building a trusting relationship that supports positive change.
Supporting mentors is essential to support young people
Mentors are trained in a range of areas, including safeguarding, cultural competency, and special educational needs and disabilities. SHIFT recognises that mentors may hear difficult or traumatic disclosures. AudioActive prioritises regular check-ins and reflective practice supervision, creating space for mentors to reflect, debrief and access support.
Where needed, mentors can also draw on external counselling support. By looking after the people delivering the programme, AudioActive aims to ensure mentors are in the best possible position to provide consistent, high-quality support to young people who need it most.
YEF has funded a rigorous evaluation of AudioActive that will assess its impact on children’s self-reported offending behaviour, alongside a range of other outcomes. The evaluation will report in Summer 2027.