Evaluation Title

Continuing Positive Change in Prison and Community

Type of evaluation

Data type Qualitative

Evaluation Focus Attitudinal change, Behaviour change

Key indicators Attitudinal change, Behavioural change, Progression Routes

Methodologies Adjudication reports, Emotion Scale, Interviews

Summary of evaluation

An analysis of the long-term and wider impact of the Good Vibrations Project. This report, commissioned from Birmingham City University’s Centre for Applied Criminology, looked at the impact of taking part in Good Vibrations on participants 12-18 months on, assessing the long-term institutional impact of participating and measuring whether any long-term impact is sustained as offenders leave prison. Participants’ attitudes, emotions, and behaviours were measured through interviews, adjudication reports and OASys records, and interviews with prison staff.

Project description

Good Vibrations runs participatory gamelan workshops - a Good Vibrations project typically runs as a week-long course for a group of 15 - 20 participants - most will not have done anything musical before. At the end of the week the group puts on an informal performance.

Key Quote

The report concluded that “participating in Good Vibrations can provide the starting-block for positive change in offenders. Many project participants are able to leverage the impetus from the project and use this to go on to achieve, both personally and practically. Participants experience sustained positive, emotional, psychological, and behavioural improvements.”

(Participating in music making) acts as a catalyst for change in the lives of offenders, and that this positive change is sustained as offenders move
through the prison system and out into the community.


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Arts Alliance Evidence Library