Beneficiary Showcase

The Last Mile saw over a hundred individuals through its programmes of training and business support in South Yorkshire. This was a catch up on just some of our beneficiaries and a celebration of their success and achievements during and at the end of the project.

Jonathan Charles - Filmmaker

Jonathon has been honing his creative style since 2000 and since joining SHIFT's Last Mile programme is rapidly developing a reputation for his camerawork and editing. He is working towards starting up a business in post production with an emphasis on music and has been able to increase and professionalise his knowledge and experience by working on a number of productions at SHIFT - including the campaign video, Kashmir the Ongoing Tragedy and two films on the Film Council's First Light scheme, What Goes Around Comes Around and First Impressions. See his work as creator on SHIFT Productions' DVD documenting the Last Mile Launch Party back in March, available from SHIFT.

Matt Crawshaw - Sound Engineer

Aged 19 from Doncaster, Matt has quickly gained a sense of professionalism and commitment in his chosen fields of live sound and studio production on Higher Rhythm Recording Studio's 'Creative Careers Programme'. He has shadowed Higher Rhythm staff, learning in the field the many aspects of music technology and production and has gained valuable work experience assisting his Careers Mentor in recording bands at Sight & Sound Music Workshop near Barnsley. The multi-talented Matt also plays bass guitar with the band Pappa O Pea who gig in South Yorkshire and are about to record their new EP at Higher Rhythm's brand new studio using state of the art recording technology and equipment.

Jill Turner - Broadcaster

Jill is a budding World Music DJ but has found access to the BBC difficult and commercial stations indifferent to World Music. With Last Mile support from The Drum Community Media Centre, Jill has been able to develop skills in radio production to sharpen up her programme shape and sound. She has worked on vocal technique and interview style with professional radio producers and uses Sheffield Live! and her programme to gain access and interviews with top stars like K'Naan (photo incl, Jill on left), Jah Wobble and backstage at Womad for a host of other stars. There is now fresh interest from the BBC and Jill will continue developing her skills at The Drum until she has completed her training later this year.

Sophie Townsend - Music Industry Consultant

Sophie is a skilled sound engineer with a degree in music technology. She has worked with The Lovers and Smokers Die Younger, both on live mixing, remixing and producing. She is an experienced DJ and plays at venues such as The Plug and The Washington in Sheffield and produces her own material. On The Last Mile, Sophie has completed a 'Training the Trainers' course with Harmony Training and has begun delivering music technology training both on a one-to-one basis and through workshops. Her recording workshop at The Burton Street Project studio in Sheffield was a resounding success. She has increased her training and consultancy work in the local music industry and intends to continue combining training with her production, DJ and engineering projects and activities.

Liz Parker - Illustrator

Liz is a promising Sheffield-based illustrator who has succeeded in building up an impressive portfolio and plans to market herself to publishing houses and launch her own business. Through Inspiral's Last Mile programme, Liz is preparing to access her market and is compiling a professional portfolio and branding her company with a cohesive website, business cards and letterheads. She has received advice from an established illustrator and has been able to attend a portfolio consultation with the Association of Illustrators in London.

Liz says: "Inspiral has opened the door to my dream career. I knew I had the ability but I needed the knowledge and advice of the Inspiral team to get where I am today and with their help I'm transforming my life. I can't thank them enough"

Chris Spooner - Graphic/Web Designer

Chris completed a BA Hons Degree in Art and Design last year and approached The NonStop Foundation to obtain a work placement to gain experience of working in graphic and website design. The NonStop Foundation's Last Mile support helped give him the opportunity to build and develop his personal style of computer graphics, whilst enabling him to expand his commercial, client-based portfolio. This ultimately helped increase Chris's self-confidence and overall employability, which has resulted in him obtaining full-time employment as a Graphic/Web Designer. See his work at www.spoongraphics.co.uk