This evaluation is a participant-focused evaluation, looking at the responses of detainees actively participating in the project, members of IRC staff who were directly involved, and how members of the community responded to two of the community exchange projects which took place in 2008/2009.

It covers the three key areas of the music interventions, quality of life for detainees and channels of communication (with local communities and the wider public) - within these the evaluation focuses on self-expression, culurally relevant music, group dynamics, stress relief, culturl wellbeing and enjoyment.

The make-up of the programme lends itself to encouraging people to participate at different levels, whether they have existing musical skills or not, and it activities have been successful in involving detainees from a wide range of nationalities (40 nationalities recorded in the sessions analysed in Year 2) - although some sessions have performance elements, which are very well received by detainees, all sessions also have interactive elements.

The range of activities provided by MID partners during the period this evaluation covers has largely been very effective in facilitating self-expression.