Aloud are delighted to share with the public the results of an in-depth study which was commissioned in 2016 to analyse the social benefit of the Only Boys Aloud programme.
The report has concluded that for every £1 invested in the programme, £13.27 worth of social benefit is generated for local communities.
Carried out by independent companies, Milestone Tweed and Social Impact Consulting, the study focused on the work of Only Boys Aloud throughout 2016/17. Results were generated following an in-depth interviewing process with OBA members and their parents.
The report highlights several benefits that have occurred because of the programme:
- 53% of boys are now planning to go to University when they previously weren’t
- 46% of OBA members are now better at dealing with pressure
- 21% of families reported an improvement in the quality of their home life
One teenager told the survey team “My parents were astonished that I joined (Only Boys Aloud). It has boosted my confidence, I wouldn’t have been able to sit and talk to you if it wasn’t for OBA”.
Another told them “I tend to put more hours into my homework to get it to a better standard. I believe the fact we rehearse songs until they are perfect has had a big effect on this”.
Menna Richards, Chair of the Aloud Board, commented: “This report shows the considerable impact that the work Aloud has on so many of our choir members, their families and communities. It’s inspiring to read of the huge difference Only Boys Aloud has made to their lives musically, socially and in terms of their ambition for the future. In addition, the report shows that the work of Aloud brings significant economic value including to some of the most deprived communities in Wales”.
Aloud Artistic Director, Tim Rhys-Evans MBE, said: “This survey shows we are achieving our aims not only of inspiring a love of music and singing amongst the boys but also benefitting their social and educational development as well. They discover how much enjoyment can be achieved from music and the tangible rewards of pursuing excellence in whatever they do in life. So many of our boys stay involved with our choirs as adults because it enriches their lives in so many ways. The results of this analysis will now give us the evidence we need to attract even more vital financial support for our work”.
The report concluded that choir membership had a major and positive impact on the behaviour and focus of teenage boys, leaving them feeling more confident, more focused on academic achievement and more socially skilled as a result.
