Decoda specialises in working with people with profound disabilities or challenging behaviour patterns. We use sound and music technologies as the key to connecting to individuals with communication problems. We explore every aspect of helping them to engage positively with the communication process, and to empower them to express themselves in ways which were previously considered impossible. We aim to extend the limits of what people with profound and multiple disabilities can actually do in terms of their own participation, their ability to make an impact on their surroundings, and making their voices heard. We believe that they have the same potential for creativity as anyone else. 

The Music Gym aims to engage people who have high individual needs or behaviour that's challenging, through providing a journey of music, movement and images. As its name suggests - it's a physical activity: not a large sensory room but rather a large, interactive space. Without the involvement of the participants nothing happens – whether it’s triggering music on the bouncy castle, making music that can be felt as well as heard, or dancing with one’s own shadow on a large screen.

The independent evaluation of the pilot project found that virtually all those who attended the Music Gym on a regular basis benefited from the experience. A crucial factor was the involvement of the family/support staff which we encourage – it’s a place for everyone to have fun. 

Sessions take place at Horntye Park Sports Complex in Hastings and you can come at any time between 10 and 3.30 and stay for as long as you like. It’s not a drop-in activity: places need to be booked in advance and participants need someone with them.

"I've been Y's key-worker for 16 years and never found something she enjoys as much as this."  

"L did 3 little jumps when she walked in the hall - she was so excited to be back again."  Members' support workers.

"It's great to see an organisation which reaches out to people who face a struggle every day of their lives and offers them help and a way to enjoy and express themselves." Lucas Neill, West Ham captain.

If you'd like to know more about the Music Gym you can phone us on 01424 444322.

If you'd like us to phone you to talk about someone joining the Music Gym click here.

To read up-to-date news about the Music Gym click here.

To see the BBC South East Today item about the Music Gym click here.

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Decoda’s skilled facilitators have established a reputation for their ability to interact with hard-to-reach individuals. We work on the premise that it is through the creative  process that a person engages fully with life, and our aim is to give this opportunity to those who may not have previously experienced it. The benefits that have come from this include improved interest and increased attention span, improved mobility and more positive interactions.

Working closely with family and/or support staff, we plan and devise programmes tailored to the specific needs of the individuals. We start from where that person is now, valuing them for what they are and building on that, rather than having any set idea of what will happen. Our interest is in people progressing, we don’t set a time scale for development.

Our experienced facilitators use continuous assessment, monitoring and evaluation in order to refine and reinforce individual therapies. We use audio, video and written evidence where appropriate.

Decoda specialises particularly in people with severe learning/physical disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury or behaviour that’s a challenge. We have also worked with people with mental health problems and the visually impaired, and we will consider any area where our methods would be beneficial.

We also offer group workshops for adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities. The aim in these sessions is to encourage social interaction, general co-ordination, vocal abilities and musical skills. The workshops comprise a mixture of contemporary sound technology and old-fashioned fun: acoustic music; interactive stories with sound-effects; costumes and props; technology that converts motion into sound - whatever will ensure the involvement of all the participants. We regularly transfer the methods used here to our work with people with profound and multiple disabilities (PMLD) and vice versa.  

A typical session would include:

• singing with microphones

• recording

• triggering sounds with switches and beams

• story-telling with sounds and images

• dance/movement to create sound effects

• vibration - to include those who are hard of hearing or of a tactile nature.

Our sessions are more about communication than music-teaching. The facilitators, Tom Smurthwaite and John Ballard, have both worked for over seven years with people with mild learning disabilities of all ages and have observed the following benefits:

1. We see a determination to communicate develop over time.

2. We have worked with our current groups for over a year and we believe everyone has improved in relation to the Pre-Curricular Framework which defines 8 levels of ability below Key Stage 1.

3. People who are normally sedentary can become enthusiastically active.

4. By working closely with support staff we have developed projects that go beyond the sessions: the service users have made costumes and props so that projects spread through other arts activities.

We offer these workshops as an ongoing course or for single days (as part of a summer school, for instance).

If you’re interested in knowing more about the Music Gym or our other services please contact us by phoning 01424 444322 or emailing  enquiries@decoda.org