A MUSIC project which has given hope to hundreds of disadvantaged young people in Oxford is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a live music extravaganza.

Since it started in 1999, Cowley’s Ark T Centre has helped more than 1,200 kids create and record their own music – including teens referred by social services and the Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service.

Tomorrow night, the charity, which offers its recording studio to youngsters for free, will hold a live gig showcasing six local acts and performances from some of the centre’s past and present success stories.

The night will also see the launch of a compilation CD capturing some of the best music made at the Ark T over the past decade.

Music project leader Jon Fletcher said he had seen the centre turn around the lives of many young people since it was created.

He said: “This is a way for young people to express what they are going through in their lives through music and their lyrics.

“It’s really important to be able to channel that and make something good out of it. Music sometimes is the only thing young people will identify with.

“The project is open to all but we have a very strong agenda to give an opportunity to people who wouldn’t otherwise have one and to encourage people who are more disadvantaged or at risk to get involved.

“Some people will have had a bad upbringing or difficult circumstances, and music has been the only thing they have applied themselves positively to.

“When someone’s got one positive thing in their life they can then start to work on the rest of their life.”

The project at John Bunyan Baptist Church, in Crowell Road, was started when its founder Stewart Ford got a £2,500 grant from the Princes Trust to buy portable recording equipment.

Now the centre has a dedicated computerised recording studio and mixer and holds more than four sessions a week for 11 to 19-year-olds to record music.

It also holds monthly live sessions where up to 40 young musicians perform a set in front of audiences of about 120 people.

Mr Fletcher, who has worked at the centre for seven years, said: “Sometimes music projects come and give young people a chance to make music – then shut when their funding runs out.

“This has been a permanent home where young people can come and be creative.

“It would be nice to think we can go for another 10 years.”

The live music event starts at 7.30pm and is free to enter. Donations are welcome.