We are incredibly proud of Music of Life student Barney, who recently took to the stage at the Houses of Parliament as part of Speakers Trust’s My Maiden Speech programme.
Hosted by Sureena Brackenridge MP, the event gave 14 young people the extraordinary opportunity to deliver a speech in Parliament about something that matters to them.
Barney was nominated by Music of Life to take part in the programme, and we were delighted when he was selected.
Barney attends a special school for young people with learning disabilities and is a hugely enthusiastic musician, particularly when it comes to the drums.
Over the summer, he took part in a series of Speakers Trust workshops designed to develop public speaking skills and confidence, working towards writing and delivering his own speech. Barney and his family showed enormous commitment throughout the programme, travelling into London each weekend so that he could take part in the sessions.
All that hard work culminated in a very special moment on 15 September, when Barney delivered his speech at the Houses of Parliament.
And, in true Barney style, he made his entrance memorable. He drummed his way towards the stage and encouraged the audience to clap their hands and stamp their feet, bringing his personality, confidence and love of music into the room.
It was a wonderful example of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity and support to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to them.
Music of Life CEO Maria Teterina and Chair Rutger Beelaerts were there to support Barney, alongside long-standing supporters of the charity Yuri and Irina Bedny. For everyone at Music of Life, it was an incredibly proud moment.
Our work is about much more than learning to play an instrument or sing a song. Music can provide a way for young people to communicate, develop confidence, discover their strengths and be heard.
Barney’s journey through My Maiden Speech captured that beautifully. From developing his ideas during the summer workshops to standing up and speaking in Parliament, he showed just how much young people can achieve when they are given meaningful opportunities to participate and lead.
We are enormously grateful to Speakers Trust for creating this opportunity and for supporting Barney throughout the programme. We would also like to thank Barney’s family for everything they did to enable him to take part.
Most importantly, congratulations to Barney. Everyone at Music of Life is incredibly proud of you, and we cannot wait to see what you do next.
