Chris Murphy

Chris was born in Bletchley Hospital in 1986. His father worked for Milton Keynes Development Corporation and his first home, in Great Linford, trialled solar energy. He went to school in Bedford and was a member of an Emo band, ‘Cut in Quarters’, which played at Zak’s, The Pitz and Esquires in Bedford.

He started in youth work in 2007-08 with the Mobile Music Project for West Bletchley Parish Council. Then he became involved with Guy Yoroboua who did the Youth Work Programme on the Lakes Estate and a Black History Month project based in The Spot Youth Club in The Point. This ran from 2009 to 2013. He also worked with Andy Elliott of the Central Milton Keynes Youth Centre. There was also work with The Stables, the Milton Keynes Urban Orchestra and residency programmes.

But austerity caused increasing cutbacks to youth services. He helped set up the Youth Network Milton Keynes charity that filled some of the gaps. But by 2015-16 when the Council gave up its lease on The Point, he decided to do other things. The Point, a central, iconic building for young people had sent a message of value and belonging.

He saw Youth Centres as an important support for vulnerable young people and music as a good way for them to vent, as well as being seen as cool. Music could be a mechanism for people to find a new pathway in life. The loss of grass-roots music venues was also a problem.