Supporting Sheffield Schools through the Power of Music

Bradfield School Sheffield

We are delighted to offer a grant to Bradfield school to enable them to put on Music Workshops for vulnerable and Pupil Premium students during school holiday.

To run the workshop in February Half Term 2024, they require a number of specialists to help to develop a scripted performance that enables students to have access to every theatre element. The students will be asked to pick from one of the following over the three- or four-day workshop to focus on: 1- Performing - including singing workshops 2-Performing - acting, Script writing and directing 3-Dancing - dancing workshops for performance Composition and 4- instrument performance - learning how to compose on music software Designing elements of theatre - costume, set and lighting. They will be putting together a document to explain the costing as well as benefits and successful outcomes of the project in due course, so check out their web page.

Mossbrook Special Primary Needs School

Mossbrook Special Primary Needs school in Norton provides specialist education for 134 children aged between 4 and 11 years old. Much time is devoted to ensuring that barriers to learning are reduced for pupils as far as possible, focusing on sensory processing activities. Music is a big part of life at Mossbrook School, with all children having music lessons each week. The school was awarded a grant to buy a new keyboard for the school. 

 "Music is an integral part of our children's experience and learning. Many children recall language from songs, and we use music to support transition throughout school, for example, lunchtime songs, singing the timetable/register and home time songs. This allows the children to understand what is happening now and next as the songs used are repeated throughout the week. 

 To keep children across the school safe, during 2020, we began to have music lessons within classrooms and the shared music space. Our old, large keyboard with broken wheels was tough to move around the school, and so we requested a grant to pay for a portable keyboard to support our music lessons and whole school performances.”

Lowfield Primary School

Lowfield Primary School is a school in the heart of the Sheffield community that celebrates its bright and diverse team of staff and pupils.

The school was awarded a grant to provide music lessons in order to give the most vulnerable children at the school the opportunity to learn to play an instrument. The aim of the music lessons are to increase the wellbeing of the children at the school, go above and beyond the national curriculum level of music and improve communication skills.

St John Fisher PTFA

St John Fisher is a small Catholic School in Sheffield, The PTFA helps with fundraising to help the school provide extra resources for the pupils. They run social events for parents/carers and children, providing an opportunity for people to meet and get to know each other and have fun. They also provide support for school trips and outings and other special events.

As many of the children at the school are not able to access opportunities to learn a musical instrument we supported them through a grant to provide musical instruments for the school. The school has begun singing lessons after school, and it’s been exciting  to introduce a range of musical instruments to support these lessons.  

Sheffield Music School 

Sheffield Music School is a charity that runs on a Saturday morning and in school holidays. They have a number of classes that cater for various genres including jazz, classical, pop, rock and rap. They are dedicated to providing free provisions for those who have a passion for music and would otherwise be unable to attend. 

We recently awarded a second grant to the music school to continue to build confidence and help a group of female students use their ideas and talents to form bands and write songs as a team. The students were committed and talented and needed financial support to continue to work on their technical knowledge and grow as musicians. 

 “Being able to work with our young women to help excel their musical talents is so exciting. From watching their singing lessons with Gina Walters to working on production and creating beats, the classes are so creative and important. Without funds like this, many young people are left behind in an expensive and elitist industry which requires huge amounts of money to access one to one training. Our mentors and mentees are telling honest stories through their music and we are so excited for what the future brings.”

Norfolk Community Primary School

Norfolk  Community Primary School is a busy and friendly school, working hard to provide the very best for all. Their school motto is "Working together to be the best we can be." Their aim is to provide all children with a good level of education. To nurture children’s wellbeing and aim to meet all of their needs to ensure they are ready for classroom learning.

The primary school has been developing a sensory space for their Key Stage 2 students, whereby they wanted to improve the space by purchasing speakers and musical instruments for music therapy sessions. We supported the school with a grant to help them achieve their aim of a fun and engaging sensory space. 

Hallam Primary School PTFA

Hallam Primary School is a large, inclusive and welcoming school providing education from 4 to 11 for over 600 pupils. The objective of the PTFA is to raise funds to support the school. They also support the school where we can with their fundraising and other activities. 

The grant enabled the PTFA to give two students at the school the chance to learn guitar for the whole year. This is part of the Pupil Premium which is additional to main school funding and is used by this school to address any underlying inequalities between children eligible by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it most. The grant will further address these inequalities and give two students the opportunity to develop their music skills.  Here is a quote from the boys guitar teacher:

 This past term I have given the boys guitar lessons and have been very pleased with their progress and enthusiasm within their lessons! The discovery of playing music on an instrument has had a positive impact on the boys and has been a pleasure to watch from my perspective. One of them even performed in the summer concert series this year and the both wish to perform next year as well. Getting to know the children and start them on their musical and creative journey has been an absolute privilege of mine.

The boys say:  We have loved learning songs on guitar, especially ‘The eye of the tiger’, performing at the summer concert was amazing and we are so glad that we are going to be able to keep learning the guitar next year.

 If you are a school or organisation in Sheffield looking for support to run musical activities in Sheffield, find out more or get in touch today.

The Steel City Choristers

Are you a lover of music?  Do you appreciate the power of traditional English choral singing? Then you must check out the Steel City Choristers in Sheffield!

This community choir has been bringing the joy of music to the city since the unexpected closure of Sheffield Cathedral Choir in July 2020.  And through their shared passion of music and deep appreciation for the transformative power of choral singing, they unite children and adults fostering a sense of community while striving for excellence in their performances.

We are happy to announce that our grant will be able to provide a bursary to both adults and children on the intensive programme of musical education on behalf of The Steel City Choristers,  as well as benefiting children in school and communities through their popular singing workshops - specifically designed to support the Model Music Curriculum! Not only do they aim to develop musical skills but enhance confidence, emotional resilience, teamwork and concentration skills.  And when it comes to navigating the ups and downs of life, essential transferable skills like these can be a game changer, helping these chortisters thrive and reach their full potential.

The Steel City Choristers are an advocate for the power of music just like us, and believe in the transcendent quality that it brings,  both in a religious and non-religious settings as well as with their multi-age approach it serves as an opportunity for both adults and children to teach and learn from one another. Ultimately creating a more engaging learning environment!

So… if you're looking to be a part of a timeless choir, where its rich history and tradition continue to captivate audiences around the world. Be sure to take yourself and your loved ones along for an out of world experience! Find out more here Steel City Choristers | A charity dedicated to high quality music education for children and young people.

One World Choir Sheffield

We are proud to announce a grant to support The One World Choir Sheffield One World Choir benefits refugees and asylum seekers who have arrived in Sheffield fleeing persecution from a vast range of countries. This includes men and women from many African and Middle Eastern countries and we have recently had a significant influx of Ukranian refugees. There are currently 75 people on the choir Whatsapp group via which they keep in touch with their members. About 25 refugees and asylum seekers attend rehearsals on a regular basis. Secondary beneficiaries include the 15 long term Brtish residents who support the choir as well as the general public who attend the many formal and informal concerts they deliver.

The Choir applied for a grant to pay for a full day workshop led by one of the workshop leaders from the Black Lives Matter Commissioning Project supported by the Natural Voice Movement. They informed us that some of our members and their musical director were very inspired after attending their Annual Gathering last year and they wish to be part of rolling out that inspiration. “We hope that a workshop led by one of the leaders will help people feel part of a wider movement. Ideally we will focus on improving our performance skills which will build the confidence of choir members and enhance the quality of the increasing numbers of performances that we are invited to give. The main benefits of the grant will be: 1) Enhanced emotional and social well being of the whole choir, particularly the asylum seeking and refugee members.The Black Lives Matter Commissioning Project is already achieving great outcomes around bonding people together in song. The choir is already a valuable source of emotional, social and practical support for many members who are struggling either with the anxiety of an uncertain future or the battle to establish themselves in a challenging society after gaining refugee status. A workshop of this kind is an event to look forward to, to enjoy with others, to become more bonded as a community of singers. As such it will bring to everyone the individual benefits of enhanced emotional, physical and social well-being.Also, after the recent influx of many Ukrainian refugees, it is particularly important to maintain the social cohesion of the choir and ensure that that our diversity is something we celebrate and feel part of together. Workshops of this kind are an excellent mechanism for cementing those bonds and ensuring the choir continues to be a place where all members feel at home. 2) Enhanced performance skills of the choir as a whole.The BLM Commissioning Project musical directors are particularly effective at bringing people together in song and enhancing skills in communicating via voice modulation, clapping, swaying, stamping – all aspects of body language that convey feeling to the audience. This will enhance the confidence of our members and ensure the choir performances communicate togetherness, resilience and joy – all qualities that impress and inspire our audiences. 3) Enhanced fund raising potential for the choir. As the quality of our choir performances improves, we anticipate we will continue to be asked to perform at events and will be more confident in requesting payment for such performances. Whilst we have been successful to date in securing short term grants to maintain the choir, we are aware that these may not be sufficient for the long term. Enhancing our ability to raise our own funds via performances is a key component in our sustainability strategy for the long term”

Bringing Harmony to children's lives : How Concerteenies is bringing young children together to explore their musical dreams

As a recipient of multiple awards, the charity Concerteenies is renowned for creating musical experiences tailored to young children and their guardians - with a focus on participation and engagement, Concerteenies events are the perfect way to introduce children to the joy and wonder of live music in a safe, diverse and supportive environment bringing generations together!

Therefore we're delighted to offer a grant to support the wonderful work that they do. 

Polly Ives, a music educator, founded the organisation in 2017 after realising that there might be fewer opportunities for young children between the ages of 0 and 7 to personally experience live music. After becoming a parent for the first time, she personally experienced the challenges of trying to enjoy music while also taking care of a newborn. Luckily, Concerteenies can offer a way for parents to overcome these obstacles and enjoy music together with their little ones.

The impact of Concerteenies has been significant. Not only have they provided young children with a valuable experience, but they have also created a sense of community for families in Sheffield. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to connect with each other and share in the joy of watching their children experience live music.

This grant will directly go to their musical stories events bringing to life popular illustrated books! These events are a blast for kids, as they get to be the stars of the show and fully immerse themselves. This Grant also aids in supporting the creation of new accessible resources that link to a variety of creative activities to ignite imagination and confidence in independent creativity! 

If you live in Sheffield and have young children, be sure to check out Concerteenies via this link

Music Without Limits: How Charity Under the Stars is Creating Inclusive Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Charity Under the Stars is a Sheffield-based organisation that's making a real difference in our community by empowering people with disabilities through the power of music. Their mission is all about creating a safe and welcoming environment that nurtures individuals' talents, confidence, and skills, allowing them to explore their full potential. They've provided a shining example of the benefits that groups can experience when they prioritise inclusivity, empathy, and recognising the individual strengths of each person. Therefore we're proud to support their efforts in using music to change lives, and we're thrilled to offer them a grant to help make it happen!

So it only comes with great pleasure to announce our support of The Charity Under the Stars in their exciting album launch event, 'Sheffield Does Sheffield,' at the renowned Leadmill venue. With our grant, we're excited to help them create a truly magical and unforgettable experience for all attendees, where the power of music can be felt by everyone in the room. Together, we're enhancing lives and are beyond thrilled to support such a fantastic organisation!

Hype Dance

Hype Dance work with anyone who wants to dance The grant was given to run dance & dementia outreach sessions with groups around Sheffield where music is a central part of those sessions. Music can evoke powerful memories and take the participants back to a past era for a short time. Throughout our lives, we listen to, take part in, and dance to music and sound. For people with dementia – even those who have lost their ability to communicate or are at the end of their life – music can be a powerful way to trigger positive feelings and connect with other people.

Listening to or engaging in music – for example, by singing, dancing or playing instruments – can help people with dementia develop and maintain relationships with others and improve their wellbeing .It can: - help them to express their feelings and ideas, verbally and non-verbally. act as a prompt for reminiscing - help them to ‘tell their story’ and share their personal history - encourage physical exercise, dance or movement -encourage social interaction, reduce isolation, and help to engage people in group activities

Music can also help a person with dementia to connect with the past by evoking memories, feelings and emotions that they might otherwise find hard to express. For example, they may find it easier to recall memories when they hear pieces of music that are significant to them – perhaps their favourite song from the past, or a lullaby they used to sing to their children. we cannot wait to hear how this goes.

Mondo Radio

Mondo radio is a volunteer lead, independent community radio station based in Sheffield. The aim of the team is to connect communities with music and nurture growth within those communities. They run DJ workshops for underrepresented groups within the music scene, free of charge.

In 2022 we were able to support to Mondo Radio through our grant programme.

This grant was spent on organising and providing equipment for a series of female only DJ workshops, creating a comfortable space for guests, refreshments, transport costs and more. Everyone from the guests to the tutors, to the Radio station will benefit from these lessons for a variety of reasons, the main one being the instilled knowledge and confidence that these workshops can provide.

We felt that the ethos of this group resonated with our own and we were happy to support this project.

What a difference a men’s music group makes

We are proud to announce one of our latest grant recipients - The Snowdrop Project.

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation has provided funding to support The Snowdrop Project in starting a music group to support their clients.

Snowdrop works with people who have been trafficked, moved from one place to another for the purpose of exploiting them.

Men are notoriously more reluctant than women to ask for help, are less likely to see themselves as being exploited and often disappear from services all together. However, they remain isolated, sometimes homeless and destitute, often struggling with their health and finances, and frequently lacking in meaningful activity. All this can add strain to pre-existing mental health struggles and is detrimental to wellbeing.

Snowdrop has found that inviting men to community-based activities such as a music group can provide a reason to get out, a sense of purpose and much needed connection with others. Community activities can also become a pathway into more in depth support, such as casework or therapy.

Currently Snowdrop has a couple of men who are very competent guitar players and are supported by their amazing teacher Nick. The grant from the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is being spent to complement donations of instruments and time and skills, filling gaps and promoting sustainability. It has meant Snowdrop has been able to buy decent equipment that conveys a sense of dignity, respect and valuing of the players.

In the future they would also like to provide music lessons to develop skills, bridge the cultural gaps and develop a sense of group activity.

Even with a support worker accompanying them, getting to the music group at all is a remarkable achievement given the distrust, anxiety and chronic pain people can suffer. The group is a safe place and the men eventually come under their own steam.

“The teacher is awesome – musically amazing but also very compassionate with the guys and patient with their sometimes erratic behaviour that echoes their previous trauma. Music is a fabulous way of managing your emotions, of connecting with others despite language barriers and for witnessing the healing power of playing together. It’s wonderful to hear the guys utterly absorbed in learning and playing, appreciating each other’s skills yes, but also cherishing each other’s company, their willingness to share and opportunities to be utterly in the flow, doing what matters despite the pain. This is a priceless affirmation of the importance of being able to provide such a space, assisted so generously by the Power of Music’s grant. Thank you.”

- David Bell, Male Project Development

To find out more about the Snowdrop Project and how you can get involved visit their website here.

Could you benefit from a grant from the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation? Visit our Grants page to find out more and apply.