Amplifying Voices: Songs For Social Change

By Nathan Chan, leader at East London Citizens

Nathan is the Music Teacher at St Antony’s Catholic Primary School in Newham, East London. Since becoming a TELCO leader in 2018, he has co-produced and co-written songs for the Living Wage Campaign, in collaboration with colleagues, parents, and the talented young people at his school to bring awareness to the National concern of unfair pay, and celebrate the wins of the Campaign. Nathan also chaired the Action Group that won the NHS North-East London Integrated Care Board Accreditation- the very first win of its kind in the United Kingdom. Here is his journey in leadership, teaching, and music.

I had been working at St Antony’s Catholic Primary School for about two years, when one day in the summer of 2018, Alistair Rooms (then community organiser for Newham) suggested that I write a song about the impact of low wages through the experiences of our young people. Citizens UK had been trying to engage with London City Airport (LCA) for around seven years with no success, so we hoped to get their attention through this. I ran a song writing session with our Year 6 students and had them write down their experiences; coming up with words and rhymes to describe what life at home was like for them and their parents. I then sought the help of one of the parents of the school, who happened to be quite an experienced rapper to help piece together all the material the kids generated. The result was a song called “REALIZE,” our first song for the Living Wage Campaign.

Soon after, we emailed the Airport about our plan to bring our choir down to sing, and very quickly received a response within two hours expressing their concern over the potential disruption we might generate. However, they did invite us to meet with their executive to have a chat. Not long after, I found myself sitting in the boardroom of London’s premier airport with a group of 10-11 year olds- along with a few other CUK leaders- sharing the impact low wages had on their families, and why they thought businesses should commit to paying their workers a real Living Wage. Five months later, we were reading headlines of London City Airport becoming Living Wage accredited.

For me, songs are a great resource for young people, especially at the primary level, to learn about the injustices that affect their communities. At their age, while they’re still learning to read, the songs provide them with the vocabulary needed to discuss these issues in any meaningful way- and because the learning is done through music - they remember it all quite ably!

Talking about the impacts of poverty and deprivation can generate some uncomfortable and embarrassing discussions in the classroom for pupils, so music is also a powerful tool to redirect negative emotions in a way that develops solidarity between them and equips them with the confidence to push for the much needed change in our societies. And in particular for Newham- a 44% child poverty rate is an absolutely disgraceful metric for the wealthiest city in the country in the 6th richest economy in the world to hold. Music certainly helps to boost the mood and build solidarity amidst this backdrop.

Since the success of London City Airport, we’ve also seen accreditations from Tate & Lyle Sugars, Newham Council, London ExCel (amongst others in the borough), as well as the establishment of the Royal Docks as London’s first Living Wage Enterprise Zone. Through this movement, I had learned that 1900+ social workers at Newham Council received a pay rise. And if you think that each worker may have a partner, and a couple of dependents, potentially there’s approximately 8000 people whose lives benefit from the Living Wage! In putting our money where our mouth is, our school also became the very first primary school in the country to accredit as a Living Wage employer. As a faith school, we do our best to embed the principles of Catholic Social Teaching within our curriculum that gives children the opportunities to live out teachings of Jesus Christ, who Himself advocated against the injustices of the time during His ministry. For what is faith, without action?

Thus far, we’ve produced 4 music videos used for the Living Wage Campaign, which have become quite a potent resource we draw on to engage communities, raise awareness and reshape the narratives around low-income. But of course, more than music - both teachers and pupils are often present at various public actions and assemblies speaking with leaders and businesses as part of our Living Wage campaigning.

Having been involved with community organising work for the past 8 years, I can say I’m quite proud to have engaged with these kinds of initiatives that empower our young people to stand against the injustices of our world. It could probably be the most important investment anyone can make, for one we may need them to stand up for us when we can no longer stand for ourselves.

But before that time, I hope to see the reality of affordable housing come back into fashion. There’s probably another song in there somewhere…