What we offer

‘In the beginning was the noise – the pulse at the heart of the universe.’ Mikey Hart - Planet Drum

Working within the trauma inducing environment like the Prison service since 2015, Vital Beats have witnessed first-hand how the drum plays a significant role in non-verbally bringing chaos into synchronicity – offering grounding and connection for possibly fragmented individuals.  

It brings solace, consolation, stress reduction, immune system boosting, a global way of maintaining physical, mental and spiritual health.

In recent years the effects of these ancient rhythm techniques have gained the deserved recognition among researchers and scientists as a therapeutic tool, and finally the variety of health benefits of drumming and percussion are increasing in visibility and validity. 

The drum

• Builds effective teams and empowers community,

• Promotes creativity and opens minds to new ideas.

• Promotes self-confidence and self-esteem

• Facilitates communication – non-verbally & verbally

• Improves listening skills

• Builds trust and confidence

• Improves leadership skills

• Enhances wellbeing and health

• Helps reduce stress and releases negative energy and blocks

• Increases heart rate and physical strength

• Creates unity and group cohesion

To see more key notes on cultural, social, physical and emotional capital, please see our impact deck slides

‘A song to me is a very tangible thing. I can feel it with my hands and see it with my eyes.’ Roberta Flack

Singing isn’t just about making music  - it’s about personal transformation. - releasing, reconnecting, and rebuilding.

Certain songs or rhythms can tap into cultural roots, ancestry & lost or known identities making it a deeply personal and healing experience.

The collective experience of singing together brings a profound sense of peace, hope and joy, offering solace and a reminder that change and healing are possible.

Singing is a form of self care and builds resilience, helping women reconnect with their inner strength. 

Singing reduces stress and tension in the body, helping to release built up anxiety.

Singing encourages deep breathing, which can calm the nervous system, activate the vagus nerve which improves overall well-being.

Singing

• Boosts energy and lifts mood, especially for those experiencing depression or withdrawal.

• When you sing, your brain releases endorphins (happy hormones) which can ease pain and give you an energy boost. 

• Singing is a natural stress reliever - it lowers stress hormones and helps you feel calmer and more balanced.

• Learning lyrics and melodies keeps your brain sharp and improves memory.

• Singing with others creates a sense of belonging, helping you feel more connected.

• Singing is a great way to be present - it brings you into the moment and helps quiet the mind.

• It allows you to express emotions in a way that words alone cannot.

To see more key notes on cultural, social, physical and emotional capital, please see our impact deck.

Vital Beat’s style of reflective practice instantly drops into an inward, self-affirming space that celebrates positive internal landscapes, encourages emotional intelligence, offering dedicated time for space, reflection, celebration and healing.  Often linked to cultural or spiritual traditions, VB offers a sense of belonging and connection to both the community and to the larger forces such as nature or the divine. 

Trauma can often hold a person hostage to a very particular way of interpreting reality - being in the grip of an unconscious frame that isn't the whole truth and is just a part of reality.  If one can see wider to possibly free up these patterns, suddenly the world can open up and internal dialogues can shift.  Vital Beats offers a different language, a new and fresh perspective and a possible spark of hope for those in the CJS.

This mindfulness can promote deep inner peace and a stronger connection to one’s self and the environment.

Though simple techniques of writing or drawing, elements of the self that no longer serve dissolve in a space that is sonically and harmonically supported. Specifics that are welcomed into one’s life are brought/encouraged in and the giving of thanks for the most minuscule of moments are noted.  

To learn more see key notes on Cultural, Social, Physical and Emotional capital.

VB is now partnering with Penny Marie from Freedom Soul Dance; her work is based on the foundations of rhythm, roots and spirit. Her collaborative workshops are uniquely crafted for all abilities, designed to find joy and release in the connection that dance offers.

Her dance practice enables participants to push past fear or trauma, to experience flow; hers is a practice that truly connects to those who are incarcerated.

Vital Beats go out into the community and prisons to build pipelines of creative excellence in performance. 

Vital Beats have a Bristol based performance group Tolo Ko Tolo and a London based performance group Cascada. Each performer is an established Artist in their own right.

All female powerhouse ensembles, fusing together the rhythmic intensity of Drum, Dance and Song, transcending cultural barriers and creating moments of pure joy, soul, and connection.

Vital Beats understand the impact of performance on artists and audiences. Vital Beats enable individuals who might not have ever performed before to undertake a process of assimilating rhythm, song and movement and inner self belief to a level where they may well take part in a performance. This may be just inside of a group setting, in front of peers and key workers in a centre or institution. Or a step further and perform on stage in front of large audiences.

This year we performed at the Bristol Refugee festival, a collaboration between Tolo Ko Tolo & Refugee Women of Bristol. The women we collaborated with had never performed before and they did a phenomenal job.

We are so honoured to co-facilitate experiences for people to perform alongside our strong inspiring Women, who transmit dynamic, healing and vital energies to audiences.