Self-Determination: Co-creating Projects with Young People Whose Lives Are Shaped by Care

Lu Bristow

Project Lead,Hope Creative

With a background in vocal coaching, Lu Bristow is a creative producer at Bristol Beacon and leads the HOPE Creative programme. Lu has led vocal schools across the South East of England and taught at a range of well-known music colleges and universities, supporting the development of emerging artists and performers. Drawing on lived experience of the care system, Lu works alongside a team of trauma-informed practitioners and music therapists to create safe, empowering creative spaces.

Benji Dorney

After joining Hope Creative as a child in care Benji remained involved for years, eventually completing a structured work placement. Today, he works at Bristol Beacon as a Music Centre Assistant, contributing to the very programme that helped shape his own journey.
In 2025, Benji gave a powerful speech at Bristol City Hall that helped influence a landmark policy change. As a result, Bristol joined over 100 other local authorities in recognising care-experience as a locally protected characteristic – a move designed to reduce discrimination and break down barriers in education, employment and housing.

Alex Lupo

Alex is a neurodivergent musician, educator and music therapist, and a Music Leader in Bath Philharmonic’s Creative Learning team. As a composer, performer and sound designer Alex has played, recorded and written music all over the world. Alex has collaborated with and worked alongside PJ Harvey, Charlotte Harding, The Paraorchestra, and The Terra Collective, among others. Alex currently has the role of Creative Lead and trainer with Live Music Now and has more than 25 years’ experience as a community musician. Alex qualified as a music therapist in 2015 after training at UWE.

Andrew Hird

Andrew is Inclusion Lead for Lincolnshire Music Service. He leads the MEHEM UpriSING inclusive choir, Elective Home education music clubs, and works with Lincolnshire Virtual School to develop trauma informed music youth clubs for looked after children.

• Technology: Zoom
• Captioning: AI-generated
• Breakout rooms: To be confirmed
• Recording: No

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