A Yorkshire partnership, Scarborough-based Singer/songwriter Terri-Ann Prendergast teamed up with Futureworks Yorkshire for her latest single. This song is a community project, aimed at inspiring and motivating the futures of young people. Futureworks are a company who help get young people into apprenticeships, and help to guide a path for those that are uncertain of higher education and lost on what to do with their lives. The song was released on December the 1st along with te below music video featuring the students at Wakefield College.
“It all started when I met Mark Scott, Director at Futureworks (Yorkshire) at the Prince’s Trust Awards in 2014,” Terri-Ann explains. “He told me the delivery of apprenticeships has not been without challenges. The biggest one faced, though, is the image of the industry and its inability to attract talented young people who are put off by the old images of poor conditions, stereo types etc.
Mark elaborated:
“The image of construction to young people is that of a bricklayer or carpenter and is very male orientated. This is only a minor part of the story. Construction and the built environment can provide a very real, varied career option to suit young people of all abilities and aspirations.”
Mark and Terri-Ann got talking about work and aspirations, which led to discussions about using music to promote careers in construction to young people. The idea was then born.
Terri-Ann set about putting lyrics and ideas together and wrote the song ‘Building Your Future’. She and Mark also had time to shoot a video, working with Bradford based company GVisions, drama students from Wakefield College and Bardsley Construction, who kindly opened up their site in Wakefield.
“I’m really excited to put the single and video out, and get it heard across Yorkshire,” said Terri-Ann. “I feel like it will speak to a lot of young people who are feeling confused or lost about their future, and hopefully it will spread a new feeling of hope and excitement at these new prospects!”
Mark added:
“There have been many attempts to change mind-sets about the industry but none like this unique song and video.
“With the song and video we hope to present to young people the types of images that they can relate to and be inspired by. We hope that they see past the stereo types to what can be truly a route to building a very positive future.”
There has been some great feedback already with their initial previews, with one fan commenting:
“I had tears in my eyes listening to that song! It really fits the way I feel right at this moment and it’s made me feel really inspired!”
For Terri-Ann, there is nothing more powerful than music and this project gave her a chance to write a song that she hopes will inspire and motivate our younger generation to a more positive and brighter future. When faced with the decision of what to do as a career, aside from higher education, it can be a daunting place. She hopes this song will inspire many because the future is out there and it’s waiting for them!
‘Building Your Future’ by Terri-Ann Prendergast was released on 1 December 2015 and is available via iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Music