The Collective is a unique opportunity designed to support young aspiring musicians to develop their talent and produce socially conscious music relevant to the world we live in today. It is focused on young people who face barriers in accessing diverse music-making opportunities due to where they live around the country. Since 2018, You Press have been nurturing the next generation of talented musicians with the help and support of Youth Music. What will the programme involve and why should I apply? The Collective is designed to support aspiring musicians to develop their talents and to produce socially conscious music. The programme will have training sessions, including: Vocal training Lyric Writing Music Production Confidence and Performance Techniques Each training session will be led by a Music Leader who is a specialist in their subject area. There will also be an Arts Award Facilitator present at all sessions to lead the group work, enabling the artists to complete and be awarded with a Bronze Arts Award at the end of the programme. We are looking to recruit 60 talented artists ( split into three cohorts ) who will work towards the creation of original music (some as collectives, some as soloists) that are inspired by social issues and topics in London communities. The selected artists will also have the opportunity to work in a recording studio to record their tracks and produce a collective album – to be published online for streaming. After the training sessions, artists will have an opportunity in the studio – where they will take part in rehearsal sessions before we host a live performance, showcasing all the original music created during the programme. Artists who show particular commitment and promise will be invited to discuss being managed by You Press for future performances as freelance artists. How long is the programme? The Artist Development Programme will take place over 15 weeks for each cohort with a final showcase in Summer 2026. The training sessions will take place every week in East London (Location TBC). How do I apply? Register here  to express your interest for The Collective 2026 and we’ll be in touch. Are there any opportunities with the You Press team? Absolutely! We are also recruiting for new facilitators and supporting artists to join our team and help the next generation of talented young artists. Register here to express your interest and we'll be in touch.

Three and a half months ago, I landed in London, unsure of what to expect but ready to take the biggest leap of my college experience. A year ago, as a sophomore at Elon University, I was living the typical college life. I was the house manager of my fraternity, surrounded by my best friends, enjoying everything from parties to late night food runs. It was fun—exactly what I imagined college to be. But something inside me wanted more. I did not just want a "typical" college experience, I wanted something that would challenge me, push me out of my comfort zone, and give me memories I would have for a lifetime. That is when the idea of studying abroad started to stick. Elon has the number one study abroad program in the U.S., and as I watched older friends post about their experiences, especially those in London, I knew this was my chance. At first, I tried convincing my fraternity brothers to join me, but no one wanted to miss out on the semester back home. I realized I would have to do this on my own. That was scary, but I wasn’t going to let fear hold me back. Fast forward to today, and I could not be more grateful that I took that chance. Moving into my flat, I did not know my roommates or how things would unfold, but I lucked out. My two roommates quickly became close friends, and we also became close friends with the group living next door. Before we knew it, we were planning trips across Europe together. In just a few months, I have traveled to Dublin, Munich, Budapest, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, Prague, and Paris. Each city was unique, offering new sights, foods, and experiences. Booking trips with people I had only just met seemed crazy at first, but that’s the beauty of studying abroad, you dive in headfirst, and the world opens up. Back in London, I fell in love with the city through my classes. I studied Music in Britain in the 20th Century, Harry Potter: Magic, Myth, and Meaning, and British Life and Cultures. Each course gave me a deeper appreciation for the UK, whether through learning about iconic bands like The Beatles, revisiting my childhood love of Harry Potter, or understanding the nuances of British culture. The second half of the semester brought a new adventure: an internship with You Press. Working in London was an experience I will never forget. I ran social media, attended events like Healing Voices, and documented recording sessions with artists. It was surreal to be part of a creative organization in such a vibrant city. Now, as my time here comes to an end, I cannot believe how fast it has gone. Saying goodbye to London and the friends I’ve made feels bittersweet. But I am so proud of myself for taking this leap. This semester has been the experience of a lifetime, filled with travel, learning, and growth. I know I will look back on these months as some of the most impactful and exciting of my life. If you are ever debating whether to take a risk, let this be your sign - go for it. You will not regret it.

By: Brendan Manning If it weren’t already obvious from the excessive number of posters at every tube station, Harry Styles released a new album. While the album has already achieved number one on the billboard charts and carries plenty of radio-friendly singles, the album as a whole is more substantial than the pop music it is perceived to be. The album, titled Harry’s House , conveys the feeling of home—wherever that might be. It creates a safe space to be vulnerable. While the highly anticipated tracks, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” and “Grapejuice,” don’t disappoint, the album is a gold mine full of deep cuts. Below I will describe my personal favourites from the album. Keep Driving: This song , the album’s unspoken hero, initially paints a comfortable and lovely picture, only to destroy it with fears lurking beneath the surface. The bridge is the sound of anxiety kicking in at the end of a perfect day filled with maple syrup and yellow sunglasses. It’s the everything’s wrong type-beat that causes a spiral of worst case scenarios, that sometimes feels the same as FOMO (fear of missing out): “Riot America, Science and edibles, Life hacks going viral in the bathroom, Cocaine… bad move, Just act normal…” He responds to all of these fears with a question: “Should we just keep driving,” and lets the listener decide the answer while reaching the end of a crossroad. “We held darkness in withheld clouds.” That’s art. Little Freak: “Stay green a little while.” If looking for a track to play while crying in the bathtub, it’s this one. It isn’t just his style that gets attention for breaking gender norms, it’s his delicate point of view that seeps through the cracks on songs like these that redefine what it means to be a man in pop music. Ironically, the lyrics of this song find Styles blaming himself for not being vulnerable enough in the said relationship. As It Was: The number one single is a song with many interpretations . Some believe it to be about his relationship with fame, his sister, his father, or old bandmates from One Direction. The same sentiment was applied to Styles’ debut single, “ Sign of the Times ,” and it makes for a powerful first single if it can be attributed to so many different ideas. While he may never share the true meaning, Styles doesn’t like to deny rumours either. In an interview about his first album, he said , “People are always gonna speculate what songs are about, and I don’t think I’d ever want to tell someone that they’re wrong for feeling what they feel about a song even when they’re not necessarily right.” The beauty lies in its ambiguity. Matilda: This song sounds as if it were compiled from everyone’s confessional DMs on Instagram. He tells the story of Roald Dahl’s Matilda after she grows up, and he reminds listeners not to worry about disapproval from one’s family. It might be worth noting that while Matilda, Dahl’s famous character, is female, Styles does not assign a gender to the person he serenades. Boyfriends: Styles is known to have rejected sexuality labels ; and while many listeners think this song draws inspiration from the experience of friends, others believe it to be about a previous relationship with his fellow bandmate, Louis Tomlinson . Regardless, it takes a strong melody and powerful lyrics to carry an acoustic song with minimal production. This is effortlessly achieved with lyrics like , “You lay with him as you stay in the daydream.” Love Of My Life: The mysterious and ominous F# notes of the chorus make listeners wonder why he would choose to close out the album with this one. For me it was the most memorable track. And what’s better, he said that it was inspired by England. After leaving home at sixteen to join One Direction, it’s no wonder he sings lyrics like, “It’s not what I wanted, to leave you behind, don’t know where you’ll land when you fly…” In an interview with Zane Lowe , Styles said: “To me, ‘Love Of My Life’ was definitely the most terrifying song for a long time because it’s so bare.” The stripped piano outro represents ascension onto another level as Styles sheds the popstar persona and moves on to something greater, while reminding us that there is no place like home .

Aliya Ahmed’s passion transformed into her professional work two years ago when she started the Functional Learning Programme . The programme provides one hour long sessions for parents to learn techniques to help with their child’s developmental needs. With non-verbal activities and mind-stimulating toys, there is an opportunity for parents and their children to connect with one another. Ahmed did functional learning with her own children and saw how positive it was for her family. This inspired her to open her home and offer therapy to families who could not afford it. “The most important thing is to understand that every child can learn no matter their race, their nationality, their background, their religion, their disability, function learning enables all parents and all children to have that belief that every child can learn to their best ability,” Ahmed said. Before You Press’ Functional Learning Programme became what it is today, it was Ahmed’s university research project. She chose to do a school-funded project with a special needs college. After working in schools with children for five years, Ahmed was ready to pursue the next step. “I didn’t plan it so it was very natural,” Ahmed said. “I didn’t create functional learning. It was something I was delivering to people who needed it and it became a demand.” Now, Ahmed has over 10 years of experience being a family therapist, working in special education and with disabled children. According to the You Press website, Functional Learning is a tool that was developed in 1976 by Dr. Geoffrey Waldon. Ahmed combined this research with her own experiences to start the Functional Learning Programme. The Islamic Relief Worldwide organisation heard Ahmed’s personal story and became a sponsor of the Functional Learning Programme. “It’s very important to me because I’m also Muslim and Islamic Relief Worldwide has always been something I’ve always donated to,” Ahmed said. “It’s quite hard to believe I am a part of a bigger organisation which I have donated to since I was a young adult. I still haven’t got my head around it.” The children and their families who utilise the Functional Learning Programme come from many different backgrounds and with that comes barriers. The greatest challenge is learning each child’s “type of play” and using that information to help with their development, according to Ahmed. “The most important feedback I get from the children and from parents is that functional learning can be very emotional,” Ahmed said. “I recently did a workshop and I had a person in there start crying while we were doing the workshop. It became very overwhelming for them. … Functional learning is all about letting go of your emotions and taking it all in.” In the future, Ahmed hopes more families sign up for the Functional Learning workshops and implement what they learn into their home routines. “We know it’s not going to be a magic wand,” Ahmed said. “We’re not changing [people]. We are helping the children or young adults have the best stability. So that’s why we call it functional learning. It’s functional living.” To participate in a Functional Learning Programme workshop, visit the ‘Projects’ tab on the You Press website, go to the ‘Functional Learning’ information box and press the ‘Apply Now’ button. By: Naomi Washington, Creative Writer and Digital Media intern

After dealing with the “frustration of not being able to find a pop-up service for hand makers in Newham,” Bianca Frimpong took matters into her own hands and founded The Community Shop Newham. The Community Shop is a social enterprise seeking to empower local artisans in Newham by giving them a space to sell and share their handcrafted goods and grow their small businesses. The hand-makers are provided with a space to sell in person and online and the space needed to offer workshops on their crafts to the public. The Community Shop provides a physical and virtual platform for hand-makers and a venue for public workshops. Having this space serves as an invaluable experience for these hand makers. Bianca claims her favourite part is watching these small businesses and young people grow in the Community Shop’s environment. At the Community Shop, you can see the true creativity these local artists are displaying through their unique artistic innovations and one-of-a-kind creations. Bianca established the shop in July 2022. This journey has been anything except linear. She dealt with challenges along the way, including struggling to find a space for the shop. After being unable to find an actual unit to have the shop, Bianca had to detour from her original plan. Originally, Bianca set out for a three month project, and this debacle set her back to making this a one month project. Bianca showcased her creativity, resourcefulness and passion by taking “a shipping container and converting that into a shop front.” Bianca explains this layout proved to be handy because the business was now “convertible”. She was able to move the shop to be anywhere she wanted and expand the shop into a six month project and beyond. The Community Shop Newham has already helped twenty-two small enterprises in the first few months of its journey. Bianca is optimistic about the shop’s future and is thrilled to continue sharing the talents of these local artisans. They have recently secured a new storefront in Canning Town. The Community Shop is moving to a brand new unit, which is being sustainably designed and built by architecture students. When pondering the impact she wants this shop to make on the local communities, Bianca finds it “exciting.” The Community Shop will “have this new space in Canning Town, so it’ll be interesting to see how it affects that community as well as the Royal Docks community.” There have been recent events such as the Spring Market, which was held in collaboration with the Good Hotel in Newham. Bianca was excited about this event because it was the perfect “opportunity to meet the hand makers and do some shopping.” This day was jam-packed with fun through various entertaining activities for kids, crafts, and an Easter egg hunt. The pop-up shop in Canning Town will be running from April 22nd through June 24th at Silvertown Way, Canning Town London, E16 1DH if you would like to attend!

Action for Race Equality is a charity with the mission to confront the institutions around them that are inherently discriminatory and racist. Deputy Chief Executive Tebussum Rashid immerses herself in this grassroots initiative and she has for almost 30 years. She got involved with the organisation after migrating to London from Pakistan and wanting to make a difference in the community. “I think the politics of the country keep me going in the sense that it’s hard work because we constantly get that pushback,” Rashid said. “But recognizing that if people like us or organizations like us weren’t in this space, the discrimination would be worse.” Just a year ago, the organisation rebranded to become a Black training enterprise group to focus specifically on policies concerning people of colour. The feeling of injustice is all too familiar to Rashid from her childhood. “One of the things that has shaped me and in terms of what I do and my passion behind the work is a situation that I was faced with at quite a young age that stems back to the prejudices within communities and the social norms that I grew up with.” In Pakistan where Rashid grew up, it is customary for young girls around age 17 to get married and not be educated. However, she was determined to break that cycle. “I remember my resilience. Everything was against me, but I was determined,” Rashid said. “I was so wanting to pursue education and I loved reading.” Not only did she pursue her personal education but she also passed her driving test at 17, which was rare for girls in her position at the time. Action for Race Equality is another way for Rashid to make change in the world. So far, it’s been successful, but like many other organisations after the pandemic, they are short of staff members. “We can only be in so many places at one time,” Rashid said. “As much as we need to be in those spaces, we can’t because of our capacity, which directly links to funding.” With more funding in the future, Action for Race Equality will move into more spaces and lend a helping hand to even more communities in London that are in need. Outside of Rashid’s work, she finds her own personal freedom through riding a motorbike. “It is my main form of commuting into London. It’s my little world and I absolutely love it.” Rashid is a changemaker in Central London. With more people like her, the world could be a better place. Written by Naomi Washington, Creative Writer and Digital Media intern

Founder of Coffee Afrik – Abdi Hassan turns underused community spaces across London into environments for youth to do activities and express themselves. Since it was founded in 2018, Coffee Afrik has made community development its top priority. “In very simple terms — We are hubmakers,” Hassan said. “We have designed and produced and curated six hubs across London in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Enfield, Harrow and Newham.” Hassan is from Somalia and he takes pride in involving his culture in the work he does. “For us, as Muslims, we are here to serve. It’s of service. We’re of service,” Hassan said. “So connecting with our community, honouring our community, honouring our culture, honouring our arts, honouring our ancestors. It’s very important, especially when you think about all these models of healing and community work.” Coffee Afrik is a community interest company, also known as a CIC, meaning all the planning happens around the needs in the community. Its thriving hub in Tower Hamlets served over 150 youth in just eight sessions. “We are all experts by experience, which means we honour our knowledge, our practice, and we’re very much focused on building spaces that are focused on healing and focused on liberation,” Hassan said. The mission of Coffee Afrik was to make spaces for Black people by Black people. Hassan noticed this need and founded the organisation with that goal. “It’s also a challenge because the work we do has depth. You can’t do this work superficially. You can’t do it in a light touch way. It is very much focused on healing and healing takes a lot of emotional time and depth” Hassan said. The future of Coffee Arik is bright and Hassan is ready for the change that will come as the organisation grows. “I’m very proud of that impact and I really hope that it inspires other grassroots, particularly Somali-led and black-led organisations, that it is possible to make and create good travel and good noise and still be sustainable, but it’s hard work.” To get involved with Coffee Afrik, visit their website at www.coffeeafrique.co.uk/get-involved . Article written by Naomi Washington, Creative Writer and Digital Media intern

Attending Ayaan Mohamud’s book launch for “You Think You Know Me” was truly inspiring. Waterstones bookstore in Turnham Green, London hosted this lovely event. Guests were welcomed with a cupcake display with candied book copies as toppers, finger snacks, and soft beverages. We had some time to socialise, heard moving speeches and were able to have our books signed. There were lots of smiles and happy tears. My favourite aspect of the event was witnessing Ayaan’s genuine appreciation for her loved ones. You could also see how proud they were of her. You Think You Know Me is Ayaan’s debut novel. The purpose of this book was to shine a light on the truth of Islam beyond the mainstream media headlines. She wants to empower the voices who feel repressed by society and help young children realize that their differences should be celebrated, rather than a reason to hate. Ayaan approaches this feat by painting a lovely picture of Hanan and her friends in the schoolyard. The novel continues to follow Hanan Ali and her journey combating Islamophobia whilst fleeing Somalia’s civil war. It is truly riveting. Her publisher, from Usborne Publishing, gave a very moving speech during the reception. She read the prototype, “I physically could not put it down.” Usborne is a top children’s book publishing company and receives loads of books to review and decide whether or not to publish. Lindquist said that Usborne decided to publish You Think You Know Me because of Ayaan’s outstanding writing, as well as the compelling message the book represents. Fritha said when they asked themselves what messages they want future generations to be reading, Ayaan’s novel became a no-brainer. Ayaan started the writing process in July 2020. She claims the initial draft was hardly recognisable from the final. Although the path was not linear, the aspect of writing which gave Ayaan the most joy was watching Hanan’s character blossom into someone that people could relate to and somebody who Ayaan was incredibly proud of. In tackling an issue like Islamophobia, Ayaan reports “there were a lot of roadblocks …but what made it easier was knowing that I was writing a girl named Hanan to the page.” Ayaan wanted to create a character who didn’t fit the stereotype of the current media. She wanted to extend media representation to allow more people to experience a relatable figure to help young readers truly comprehend the power of their voices. Ayaan’s passion for writing is clear and genuine. I am thrilled to see where it takes her. I’d rate You Think You Know Me and the book launch event five stars all around.

On the evening of Tuesday, July 25, You Press began its second term of the ASPIRE Program. Made up of 17 aspiring creatives with ages ranging from 16 to 30, the cohort will embark on a 15-week training programme exploring areas such as social mobility, personal and professional development, confidence and decision making, networking skills development and leadership. The program is designed to prepare aspiring creatives for freelance work and provide outreach and opportunity. The cohort will have the ability to collaborate with professional freelancers during the program. The meeting was led by You Press Founder and Director Farah Mohammoud and Project Coordinator Madiha Noori. It consisted of introductions of the You Press staff and videos that helped to familiarize the participants with the social enterprise’s overall mission and past programs. To begin the session, Mohammoud asked everyone to get into groups and work together to bring a metal rod to the ground using only their fingertips. He manipulated how the group could communicate with one another and the amount of time they had to complete the task to promote collaboration, rule following, and rule questioning. Mohammoud used the activity as a metaphor for completing tasks set by employers. The participants then did a “reflection walk” by Royal Victoria Beach. The creative space was meant to help them reflect on their state of mind and aspirations as a freelancer. “Really be honest, this is your own journey of reflection,” Mohammoud said. “You can block out all the noise and just kind of focus on the calmness, you kind of get through what you’re looking for, and wanting you guys to also really utilize the space that we have as well.” The cohort is made up of individuals with various aspirations and goals in the freelancing field. Grace, who is 18 years old, is passionate about videography, photography and other multimedia avenues. Through this program she said that she wants to expand her portfolio and brand. “[I hope to] start my own side hustle like a multimedia, small business, where I could take pictures, videos and then sell it,” said Grace. Ru, another participant, is 26 years old and pursuing graphic design and other creative work. “So, like I’m open to different modes, which is why this is perfect for me,” Ru said. “I feel like I want the confidence to show my portfolio to clients so I can actually get freelance work.” Each group also discussed their values needed to be a freelancer. The shared values amongst the cohort were communication, collaboration, no gatekeeping, creativity, equity, supporting one another and last but not least, fun. “This is kind of like your early blueprint. And it’d be good to see like, if your opinions and thoughts and your aspirations evolve or change or adapt to the midpoint of the program and at the end,” said Mohammoud after the activity. The expectations for both You Press and the cohort were then outlined. You Press promised support, guidance, communication and equal opportunity throughout the program. “The limitation comes from your side, not from our side,” said Noori, encouraging everyone to utilize You Press’s resources. Mohammoud ended the session with a group activity outside where the cohort passed an unraveling ball of string between each other and said their takeaways from the session. This resulted in each person holding a piece of string, creating a web meant to represent the connections everyone is making with one another. By Jack Underhill, You Press Intern

This being my first time out of the country, I was certainly nervous to travel through London. Looking at a map of the Underground was overwhelming to say the least. Each line is spread out across the city in a rainbow of colours like a woven spider web where I would eventually lose my sense of direction and get lost in the endless network of train tracks. But upon using the Tube for only a few days, I found it to be much less complex than I previously thought. With the help of CityMapper, the railways were quite easy to navigate. Once I had spent a few days exploring, I felt confident enough to plan a trip outside the city. I was thinking of going to Scotland. Something I never could have expected, though, was getting notified by my train booking to Edinburgh that I should expect train services to be affected by planned strikes. Upon further research I found that members of both the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport and the Aslef Union have been in dispute with the rail industry over pay, pensions and working conditions. While the recent Tube rail strikes have since been called off , the RMT union is still planning a strike on Saturday, July 29 that will cause widespread disruptions to National Rail services. According to an article by The Independent, the National Rail disputes are over union workers not receiving pay raises that match increasing inflation. According to the Office for National Statistics , “the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 8.7% in the 12 months to May 2023.” However, recent news shows that inflation has hit a year low as “inflation slowed to 7.9% in June.” This is not the first occurrence of railway strikes, but one instance of a long-standing dispute with the railway industry. Strikes in March occurred for the same reasons. Transit strikes, particularly Tube strikes, appear to be an almost expected occurrence in London. The transit industry is seen as one the city’s most “ strike prone industries ”, and disagreements between TfL and the workers unions continue to remain unresolved. As someone from the U.S., I am unfamiliar with experiencing public transit strikes, let alone strikes of any kind. New York City is the largest city in the U.S. and contains the largest transit network nationally as well. Public transit strikes in the ‘Big Apple’ are far and few, only tracking back to three instances in 1966, 1980 and 2005 when the railway system was shut down due to labour disputes. In 1966, the Transit Workers Union strike shut down the city’s subway system for 13 days. Workers demanded a wage increase, shorter hours and contract improvements. Because four to five million people used public transportation at the time, the city’s infrastructure was heavily burdened as the government attempted to minimise the strike’s effect. As a direct result, New York instituted the Taylor Law in 1967, denying public employees the right to strike. In 1980, 33,000 transit workers went on strike for 11 days because of a lack of wage increase, again testing the resourcefulness of the city. While entrepreneurial businesses thrived, the strike was estimated to have cost “$75 million to $100 million in lost income for workers and companies — and $3 million a day in overtime and lost taxes for the city,” according to the New York Times article. Due to the Taylor Law, the striking workers were fined $1,250,000 . By 2005, “over 7,500,000 million riders” depended on buses and subways. The TWU, the same union involved in the past two strikes, walked out illegally for three days because the union rejected the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s increase of retirement age and demand for increased pay towards worker pensions. In 2006, TWU President and leader of the 2005 transit strike Roger Toussaint was sentenced to 10 days in jail for the unlawful strike. The union was also fined millions of dollars. These three events put the U.S.’s most populated city to a standstill, prompting government officials to scramble to accommodate the needs of commuters. But in the end, every union worker was participating in illegal action after the introduction of the Taylor Law. Now let’s take a look back at London, where transit strikes are happening yearly and for extended periods of time. The frequency of these strikes may be in part due to the legal freedom for workers to participate in “ industrial action .” As long as the strike is formally backed by a trade union, union members are taking part in it, and a legal process is taken to make the strike official, workers are protected against being dismissed. The ability for public employees to participate in such action is not shared by the city lying just across the Atlantic, which may contribute to the elusiveness of such walkouts. While the Taylor Law is only specific to New York, the striking of public sector employees is illegal in 38 other states. Both the U.K.’s and the U.S.’s largest cities have constructed two different legal boundaries for public sector railway workers that has undoubtedly influenced the very landscape around public transportation. While there have been significantly less rail strikes in New York City, the very act was outlawed and would lead to immense fiscal damages for unions. Therefore, these strikes have become much less frequent, and therefore much more significant. Whereas in London, the frequent strikes pose a disruption to the five million passenger journeys that the Tube accommodates a day. However, public employees having the ability to defy regulations and wages that they deem unjust can act as a symbol of freedom for the working class to protest unjust working conditions. By Jack Underhill, You Press Intern

Hopping on a bus on Sunday morning, I made the three-hour journey to Bath, England. As I left the Bath station, I was immediately immersed into the quiet bustle of people strolling through the city’s cobblestone and tile streets on a rainy morning. The light grey clouds and occasional drizzle was a fitting forecast for the calm richness of Bath. It was amusing to observe how each person was enjoying the city in their own way. Whether it was grabbing a pint in a pub, enjoying a coffee at a quaint café or strolling through the many shops, Bath held something valuable for anyone. But many were exploring the historical wonders such as the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey or watching the river flow from Putney Bridge. Because the city centre lies within a valley, long rows of honey-coloured houses snake throughout the hills on its outskirts. Each with its many chimneys jutting out paired with white windowsills. The greenery along every hill stands vibrantly against the rigid stone buildings. Bath appears as though it has been frozen in time since its transformation from the Roman province, Aquae Sulis, to what is today known as Bath during the Georgian period in the 18th century. The Bath stone, an oolitic limestone, gives the buildings its distinctive colouring. One can feel the culture and history that has been preserved for so long. I had the pleasure of walking through the high arches of Bath Abbey, a church that has been used as a Christian place of worship since the 12th century. The immense, colourful stained glass windows, the oldest dating back to 1603, depict the life of Jesus Christ, stories from the Bible and the crowning of King Edgar. While every feature in the cathedral stood still, I could observe its complex structure like it was its own living organism. I was quite surprised to be spending much of my day, though, observing the many buskers scattered throughout the streets. The musical skill of each performer was astounding, and the range of instruments being played allowed you to walk through the streets hearing different styles of music. As I first entered the city’s centre, I came across a pianist who was travelling Europe with a piano painted colourfully and adorned with sticky note messages written by passersby. The pianist, who I later found out is named Jonas, played emotional renditions of various well-known songs. In front of his instrument was a sign that read that this has been the 26th country he has played at. Before I could see it, I could hear the soothing tone of a trumpet echoing off the beige stone buildings. Continuing further through the winding alleys, I came across the trumpeter, Ivan Andre playing with a tone and vibrato so soothing it made the many pedestrians stop to listen beside Bath Abbey. His beautiful runs sounded as though they were emanating from the building walls themselves. At the front of Bath Abbey was a violinist playing soothing classical music, and just a couple of hours later, a young guitarist and drummer duo took his place, jamming out in their performance of “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles. I eventually wandered in front of the “ Fiddler on the Rope, ” otherwise known as Kwabana Lindsay. An international circus performer, Lindsay effortlessly played the fiddle whilst walking across a slack rope suspended five feet in the air. These performances further enhanced my own experience visiting Bath by not only providing entertainment whilst exploring, but deepening the cultural richness of a city frozen in time. Street performing, or busking, dates back to ancient Rome during agricultural and religious festivals when two parties “would hurl insults in a sing-songy manner.” It was also used to celebrate the working class and supported by the Roman government. Once Rome fell, though, busking was essentially cast out as free speech was restricted. Even after the Church of England deemed busking sinful, it was used as a tool to instil social change, protest injustice and transport creative ideas and songs amongst regions. In 2014, a dispute between Bath Abbey and buskers had been persisting for months and erupted when “a choral evensong service was halted because the buskers could be heard above the sound of the Bible reading and threatened to disrupt the choir,” according to The Guardian article. While the rector of Bath Abbey claimed that buskers using amplifiers near the church were disruptive, performers claimed that the church was trying to restrict their freedom to play to the public. It is not up to me to decide who is at fault, but it is undeniable that the very essence of busking was reignited as a medium for combatting injustice. The historical architecture preserved for centuries was breathtaking enough to look at, but the buskers provided this ancestral city a breadth of newness and life. Their skillful craft gives the city a new, young heartbeat energising artistry and creativity. Bath is a shining example of how street performers help enhance the culture of a city that has been around for centuries and can be used as a medium to communicate ideas and emotions.

Going to a foreign country on your own is a daunting and anxiety-inducing experience. You worry that you may struggle to meet people, or even worry about your own safety navigating such an unfamiliar place. I was eager to arrive in London, but nervous that I would be navigating the city without a friend. I wondered if I would be able to make connections and that eventually led to anxiety around traveling alone the entire time. When I booked my first weekend trip to Dublin, Ireland on my own, I was unsure what to expect. But I knew that my best chance of creating friendships during my time was to book myself a bed in a hostel. For those that don’t know, hostels are different from hotels. Rather than living in a purchased private room with your own amenities, you are living with strangers in a shared room, usually bunk beds. Residents also share a kitchen space and washroom. While this may not sound exactly like lavish living or even comfortable, hostels provide a connection to others and to our environment that a hotel can’t provide. Hostels date back to 1909, “when a German teacher Richard Schirrmann recognized a need for night shelter for groups of school children in order to explore the countryside.” Schirrmann created the world’s first hostel in Altena, Germany. According to the website, 1932 saw the creation of the International Youth Hostel Federation in Amsterdam. Schirrmann was named the first president and numerous European countries joined the federation. Now known as Hostelling International , it is the world’s largest international membership organization with over 3.3 million members. Hostels have certainly changed since the 20th century, though. Hostels are no longer the dirty, run-down places that people may associate them as. Most are now well-kept and clean. The types of hostels have also diversified as there are some known as “party hostels” or conversely “family hostels.” Many also provide private accommodation for a higher price. Hostels have been designed since their inception as a destination for young travelers to stay for a short amount of time at a low cost. A side effect that hostels have is their ability to gather individuals from different cultures and different parts of the world together. Whether you are making food in the kitchen, hanging out at the lounge or laying on your bunk bed, you are encountering someone you have never met before. Every individual shares the similar goal of finding a cheap place to stay amidst their adventures, and oftentimes they too are looking to meet others on their journey. But each person has had their own life and unique experiences that you may learn from. This contrast between a common destination and difference in backgrounds prompts engaging conversations as you learn about someone that can be from an entirely different part of the world. This exposure to people through shared space sounds socially tiring, but it is also enriching when you learn about other cultures through conversation. Hostels act as an intersection of adventure and relaxation and if you do stay in one, be eager to spark some conversation with your hostel-mates. There is the chance that you may be able to create a friendship and explore the environment around your stay together. Hostels hold a temporary beauty. They spark meaningful and deep friendships that can help you learn about yourself, but the connections all have an eventual check-out date. The short-lived friendships I have made with people that live thousands of miles away are something that I will always cherish. And if you haven’t yet, think about booking a hostel rather than a hotel, you will be surprised by the people you meet, cultures you experience, and memories you make. By Jack Underhill, You Press Intern