Snowdrop Project attendee

We are delighted to be able to support this wonderful Snowdrop Project whose objectives revolve around alleviating the plight of those who are, have been, or are at risk of becoming victims of slavery or human trafficking. Their focus lies in providing charitable assistance through case working, counseling, advocacy, and related support services.

They are dedicated to supporting and empowering survivors of modern slavery and exploitation in South Yorkshire, aiding them in their recovery and the reconstruction of their futures. Snowdrop adopts a holistic, community-based approach, ensuring long-term support that addresses essential needs such as independent living, physical and mental well-being, community engagement, education, and employment. Their comprehensive support is delivered through a casework program grounded in social work principles, an in-house counseling service, house renovations, and community activities.

Their in-house community activities, such as a toddler group, sewing, and ESOL/IT skills, serve as a low-threshold means of reducing isolation and rebuilding trust. Additionally, they facilitate access to external community activities like nature conservation, volunteering, climbing, ESOL, and music appreciation/lessons, fostering broader community integration and independence.

This application seeks funding for a specific individual—an opportunity to cover 6 months of music lessons at a Sheffield music school for the 5-year-old daughter of one of their clients. The mother is a refugee receiving universal credit, lacking savings, and unable to afford music lessons for her daughter. Recognising the potential benefits, she emphasises how music can help her daughter focus, regulate her mood, provide intellectual challenges, and enhance social skills and networking opportunities.

Survivors of trafficking often bear the weight of societal stigma associated with abuse/exploitation, making it challenging to cope with shame and prejudice. Parents work diligently to mitigate the negative impact of their trauma across generations, and a child's development of skills and social repertoire significantly contributes to the family's resilience. Resilience, rather than a solitary effort, is a communal characteristic. The ability of the mother and her daughter to bounce back and thrive is largely influenced by the supportive communities in which they reside, including local organisations like The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation.

The Snowdrop Project | A Future Free From Modern Slavery

We are pleased to announce we have given a second grant to The Snowdrop Project for their newest community activity, Little Singing Sessions.

The Snowdrop Project empowers survivors of modern slavery to tackle their many challenges and take control of their futures. Reintegrating into society, finding friendships and learning to trust people again are essential elements in the process of recovery for survivors. Isolation and loneliness can be enormous barriers for survivors. However, they often see drastic improvements in the well-being and confidence of clients and their children after attending our community activities.

Snowdrop aim to remove as many barriers as possible for individuals to participate by offering onsite childcare and contributing to transport costs so clients can enjoy the activity, meet other people and relax.

To date, Little Singing Sessions have happened at the end of Snowdrop’s weekly parent and toddler group meetings. Group singing with parents and toddlers has proven to be very popular and been really helpful for parents and toddlers to develop English language skills.

With funding from our foundation, Snowdrop will be able to offer the sing along sessions as stand-alone groups. The grant will go towards launching a pilot of weekly sessions, which will aim to encourage parents and toddlers to play music, sing along and have fun.

From the sessions Snowdrop hopes to achieve;
- New opportunities for parents and children have to engage with others in a social setting - Support the development of language skills - Prepare the little ones for school by providing a safe place for them to learn how to sit and listen and cooperate with others

“We're really pleased to share that we've recently started a weekly Music & Story Time group for Snowdrop clients and their babies & toddlers . The group will provide an opportunity for our clients' children to learn and play through song and stories We're looking forward to sharing more updates from the group when we can! A big thank you to The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation for helping to fund the group with a grant!” - The Snowdrop Project

Bringing Joy and Connection to White Willows through Creative Music Sessions

We were delighted to support this project for individuals who live in residential accommodation at White Willows Extra Care Scheme. There are a number of amazing benefits music can bring to older people including;
- Reducing stress and anxiety - Improve speech and cognitive skills - Increase social activity - Inspire movement - Tackle boredom and improve mood

The provided grant will be go towards offering high-quality creative music sessions for elderly individuals residing in the White Willows residential schemes, who experience isolation. The residents, with an average age of 81, have been identified through resident data to have below-average access to the arts. White Willows is situated in an area characterized by high levels of deprivation, ranking in the top decile in the index of multiple deprivation.

During the pandemic, funding enabled White Willows to address the limited access to the arts by organizing creative sessions for the residents. Since the conclusion of the funding period, residents have expressed a desire for more music sessions. These sessions have proven beneficial in fostering connections among residents, promoting happiness, and boosting confidence.

The grant will specifically contribute to the implementation of six additional music sessions, facilitated by experienced musicians. It's worth noting that the Sheffield Council has also extended its support to this initiative.

Bens Centre for Vulnerable People

We are thrilled to announce a £500 grant in support of the remarkable Bens Centre, a self-referral day center dedicated to assisting adults facing challenges with addiction to drugs or alcohol, homelessness, and often concurrent mental health disorders. The center's distinctive approach allows clients to access their facilities without judgment based on prior substance use.

Their proposed initiative outlines four 2-hour sessions, led by Ritetrax, designed as follows: Session 1 focuses on basic decks/rhythm work, Session 2 introduces specialist digital music equipment and instruments, Session 3 involves clients applying their skills to contribute to a musical piece, and Session 4 sees clients showcasing and advancing their freestyle skills.

“Thank you so much, it took quite a while to organise but was well worth the wait. Ritetrax came to Ben’s Centre each week from mid-November until our Christmas party on the 21st December 2023 and were very well received. We managed to have some very informal jamming sessions and also some karaoke, which the clients loved. One client said to another “I’ve known you for years and didn’t know you could sing like that”.  The clients truly immersed themselves in the atmosphere and we have been able to secure some further sessions (tba) for this year.” - Bens Centre

Brightside Music CIC: "Music Enriches the lives of those who have access it"

Brightside Music CIC is dedicated to supporting individuals accessing healthcare and community support, strives to break barriers to musical opportunities. Their Sheffield-based musicians bring high-quality, interactive live music to hospitals and community settings, tailoring sessions to participants' preferences and situations. Empowering participants, Brightside believes that everyone is a musician, and music enriches the lives of those who have access to it.

Over the last seven years, Brightside has conducted interactive music projects at various institutions, including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, AGE UK Sheffield, and more.

In a recent collaboration, Brightside submitted an application, receiving support for a mini-project featuring three winter/festive-themed early years music sessions. These sessions, hosted by Sheffield Family Hubs, target families who might not typically access such activities. The allocated funds, covering artist fees and preparation time, will ensure engaging sessions led by musicians Becky and Aisling.

The initiative aims to reach areas with limited live music access for young families. Participants, primarily children under 5 and their parents/carers, will enjoy violin, clarinet, ukulele, and vocal performances, actively participating in singing, playing percussion instruments, dancing, and selecting songs. Responsive to participants' needs, these sessions will foster family fun while enhancing listening, communication, and creative skills. Brightside Music CIC continues to bring the joy of music to diverse communities.

You can read feedback from the project here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:1f5c1213-192a-4015-beba-6beb59b8da39

Footprint Jazz Club: A Rising Beat in Sheffield's Music Scene

Footprints, a newly established jazz club, has garnered acclaim from both the BBC and Jazz North for its remarkable contributions to emerging promoter talent over the past six months. Evolving into a monthly event, Footprints focuses on showcasing Sheffield-based musicians, aiming to propel new acts and talents throughout the northern region.

More than just a venue across various genres, Footprints is dedicated to nurturing and spotlighting Sheffield's vibrant jazz music scene. Currently drawing standing crowds of up to 200 enthusiastic attendees, the club has successfully created an engaging atmosphere for artists.

Footprint's mission is to pioneer Sheffield's jazz scene in a grassroots-oriented, inclusive, and progressive manner. Collaborating with Sheffield University, the club provides an external platform, hosts open monthly jazz sessions, and offers an online platform for artists to have their sets professionally recorded in partnership with Love in Space Publishing.

Looking ahead, Footprints has exciting plans, including a free-for-all open invite jam session in December—an inclusive event uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds. In January, the club aims to present the Footprints Jazz Festival, an evening celebration at SADACCA, featuring a diverse lineup of Sheffield-based jazz acts, including Franz Von, The Lemur Conspiracy, Fuji Speedway, and Kali. The festival will extend into the night with various local DJs taking the stage. The grant from the foundation will play a crucial role in bringing these events to life.