So it was a minor miracle when a friend and I set off to the Rejoice the Voice workshop. Our faces looked very much like those of a group of young people I took rock climbing once. It became clear on the journey that I was going to have to go up the rock face, too - that if they were going to have a go, so must I.
On this journey we told ourselves that we were grown up and could leave if we didn't like it - so we pressed on. The workshop was in a church hall, with about 30 women of all ages and backgrounds led by three women singers with beautiful voices and, much more importantly for this activity, the energy, vision, creativity and an ability to inspire even the recalcitrants like us.
They quickly took us through a one-part song with a strong beat, we recorded it and upon hearing the playback broke out in spontaneous applause. We had made that music.
I loved the workshop; the purpose, style, just being with other women making something together. The CD arrived in the post a couple of days later. I listened to it and again felt that joy, that sense of achievement.
The Comprehensive Spending Review is a bit drier on this topic - make contact, be purposeful, create structure and you have a positive activity with personal and social development, improved confidence and increased aspirations.
The women running the workshop had got it just right and the CD gave me the tool through which I can continue to celebrate my success. So I do not want to hear one more moan about recorded outcomes - just try them for yourself. As for myself, I am going on a weekend course next.
Viv McKee is Director of Policy and Development at The National Youth Agency. She can be contacted at vivm@nya.org.uk.
