Large Grant Recipients July 2024

Always An Alternative

We are thrilled to announce that Always An Alternative are one of our 2024 £2000 grant recipients

Always An Alternative is an innovative charity organization, focused on the well-being of young people aged 10 to 24, is launching a groundbreaking project targeting the 18-24 age group. The charity is dedicated to challenging the mindset of youth, supporting them in making informed, positive life choices, and equipping them with skills for long-term success. With a core mission of reducing knife crime, gun crime, gang culture, and anti-social behavior, the organization seeks to address these pressing issues through alternative education and engagement methods.

The organization employs a variety of projects to connect with young minds, including youth clubs, knife crime awareness initiatives, weapon amnesty bins, weapon collections, and mentoring programs. More details on these initiatives can be found on their website and social media pages.

Our grant will be used to create a new Music Mentoring project which will focus on leveraging music as a medium to help young adults express their emotions and experiences related to knife crime and other violent crimes. This project unfolds in several stages:

1. Sourcing Artists: In the initial two weeks, the organization will collaborate with an existing music artist and their network, offering opportunities for young people to get involved via social media.

2. Mentorship Engagement: Over the next four weeks, a mindset mentor and a music mentor will engage with artists individually. This period involves one-on-one sessions to learn about each artist's journey with youth violence and to build a mutual understanding of the project's goals.

3. Song Creation: The following four weeks will be dedicated to writing lyrics, recording, and mentoring from a music producer and mindset mentor.

4. Reflection and Celebration: The final week will be devoted to celebrating the young people's achievements, emphasizing the importance of recognition to ensure they continue spreading positive messages about knife crime and youth violence.

The project aims and structure will help young adults articulate their trauma and raise awareness through music. Participants will create two songs, potentially in genres like Rap/Hip Hop and Garage/Baseline, depending on their preferences. Each group, consisting of 2 to 5 young adults, will receive:

• 7.5 Hours of Sessions: Discussions on knife crime, personal trauma, and related concerns.

• 4.5 Hours of Mentoring: Guidance in transforming their experiences into music.

• 4.5 Hours of Studio Time: Creating the beats and recording vocals.

Local successful music artists will be invited to interact with and congratulate the young participants upon completion. Each participant will also receive an award for their involvement.

The entire process will be documented, resulting in a documentary for each song to showcase the transformative power of music in addressing trauma related to knife crime and violence. Once completed, the songs and documentaries will be uploaded to YouTube and other social media platforms, ensuring the project's positive impact endures and has a lasting impact.

This one-time project aims to leave a lasting legacy, promoting continued education and positive messaging around knife crime. The charity will also connect young adults with necessary services for ongoing support.

Enrichment For The Elderly

Music to Your Door: Bringing Harmony to Dementia Care

Our Second £2000 grant, of this round, goes to Enrichment for The Elderly. Enrichment for the Elderly and District Musicians have joined forces to bring the innovative "Music to Your Door" program to Sheffield, providing bespoke, home-based music workshops for people living with dementia. This unique collaboration aims to support older individuals and their families, fostering understanding and connection through the universal language of music.

Enrichment for the Elderly has long been dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people and those living with dementia. Their mission is to support both professionals and families in understanding dementia better, using creative interventions to help older adults reclaim their voice in society. By facilitating intergenerational activities, they encourage mutual learning and support between different generations.

With our grant funding, Enrichment for the Elderly can secure the necessary resources to bring this vision to life. This funding will cover two sessions of administrative support, as well as three days of music workshops provided by District Musicians, a specialist music service for people living with dementia. This grant enables these organizations to reach individuals who are isolated at home, offering a lifeline through the power of music.

District Musicians' "Music to Your Door" program is a groundbreaking approach that has been refined since the lockdowns of 2021 and emphasises ‘The Power of Music’. Led by professional Healthcare Musicians Sophie and Nick, who completed a comprehensive apprenticeship with Opus Music in 2017, the program brings shared music-making into the homes of people living with dementia. This method has proven to be a powerful tool in alleviating the isolation and monotony often associated with dementia, providing meaningful engagement and emotional relief.

The project timeline is meticulously planned to ensure maximum impact. Starting on September 5th, 2024, Enrichment for the Elderly will identify new service users who have not yet accessed District Musicians' services. By the end of the project, up to 18 individuals and their carers will have benefited from this enriching experience. These are people who often face challenges such as isolation, loneliness, and mobility issues, making them difficult to reach through other city provisions.

Service users who wish to continue experiencing the benefits of "Music to Your Door" can transition into District Musicians' existing, Arts Council-funded project, which will continue until at least November 2025. This ensures that the positive impact of this initiative can be sustained and expanded, providing ongoing support to those in need.

For more information and to see the transformative power of "Music to Your Door," watch this short film: Music to Your Door.

Through this innovative partnership, Enrichment for the Elderly and District Musicians are not only bringing music to the doors of those in need but also bringing hope, connection, and a renewed sense of joy to the lives of people living with dementia and their families.

The Choir with No Name: Building a Joyful Singing Community in Sheffield

We are delighted to support The Choir With No Name, one of our latest grant recipients! This amazing Choir runs choirs across the UK, creating joyful, supportive communities for people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation. With six thriving choirs in Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Coventry, Brighton, and Cardiff, we are excited to announce the launch of our newest choir in Sheffield, starting January 2025.

To celebrate this launch and introduce their work to the Sheffield community, they are bringing their Liverpool choir to perform at an event on Wednesday, 16th October, at Sheffield Cathedral. This special event aims to connect with service users from the Archer Project,and introduce their mission to potential supporters and funders in Sheffield. our approach is simple yet powerful. Each of our choirs meets weekly for a warm catch-up over a cup of tea, followed by a heartfelt singing session. After singing together for an hour and a half, we enjoy a hot meal prepared by volunteers. This routine provides more than just music—it offers a safe and welcoming space where members can find friendship, build confidence, and enjoy a sense of belonging.

Their choirs regularly perform at a wide range of venues, from local community festivals and homeless hostels to prestigious stages like the Royal Festival Hall and Brighton Dome. For many of their members, singing together is a stepping stone to addressing other challenges in their lives, such as finding stable housing or employment.

Our grant will directly support their Sheffield choir launch event and help them recruit new members, build connections, and inspire volunteers, setting a solid foundation for the Sheffield choir’s weekly sessions starting in January 2025. They are committed to making this new choir a vibrant part of Sheffield’s community life, bringing the joy of singing to those who need it most.

“Thank you for supporting the Choir with No Name as we extend our reach to Sheffield. With your help, we can create a new space where voices are heard, friendships are formed, and lives are transformed—one song at a time”. If you would like to find out more about the choir visit their wesite The Choir With No Name

Supporting Local Talent: The High Green Musical Theatre Group

We are so happy to announce that we have awarded a grant to The High Green Musical Theatre Group.  The group formally known as The High Green Amateur Operatic Society was formed on in January 1948, with the first production being “The Dogs of Devon”.

Now they have around 23 cast members ranging in age from 7 years, to their oldest member, Harvey who is 99 years young and will be 100 in November. 

They perform 2 shows a year, they rehearse, make costumes and perform in a small 96 seat theatre in High Green Sheffield.

Jan, one of our volunteers, has been lucky enough to see three of their performances;

“Each one has been amazing, they put their heart and soul into each one and I will be going to the Christmas pantomime again this year.”

The grant we gave will be spent on paying for their pianist and musical director for rehearsals, this allow them to have live music at performances and rehearsals.  They are also looking for new members over the age of 18 to join them for their next production of Cinderella.  If you would like more information please contact their secretary Laura Hall on info@hgmtg.co.uk or give her a call on 07533 536311. 

Classical Sheffield

Our Mission is about supporting Music in all its forms, and we are delighted to announce our latest grant to Classical Sheffield.

Classical Sheffield is dedicated to promoting classical music-making and expanding musical engagement across the city. By partnering with venues, orchestras, choirs, and a diverse range of music-makers, Classical Sheffield creates accessible opportunities for people from all walks of life to enjoy live music. Since 2013, they have engaged over 60,000 people, including many who experienced live classical music for the first time. Their platform supports young musicians and composers, enriches the city's cultural scene, and provides performance opportunities for groups of all ages and abilities.

In March 2025, Classical Sheffield will host their next Classical Weekend, a festival involving over 1,500 musicians in 50+ concerts throughout Sheffield City Centre. They are seeking a grant to support a free activity at Charter Square’s "Musical Pocket Park," which features 10 public musical instruments. This will be the first planned event to utilise these instruments, bringing together musicians to inspire public use. The event will include performances and a guided workshop, where families and young people can participate in making music together in a relaxed and informal setting. Our grant will be used to make this a reality, and we are honored to be part of it. You can find out more about Classical Sheffield here.

Hinde House School's visit to see Studio Orchestra

Our latest grant went to Hinde School to enable them to attend the Studio Orchestra performance at The Leadmill

Daniel Johnston from Sheffield Music Hub and Head of Music at the school, Tom Elliott, organised for a group of GCSE students to attend the concert.

Tom Elliott, said - Hinde House students have not had the opportunity to witness a live orchestra performance before. This outing would serve as an invaluable experience for them, introducing them to a different aspect of music and performance arts. Witnessing the talent and dedication of local Sheffield musicians would have a profound impact on their understanding and appreciation of music, which aligns with the music curriculum objectives.

Furthermore, this trip would not only offer cultural enrichment but also directly benefit the academic progress of our students. As part of their exam course, they are required to analyse and evaluate live music performances. Attending the Sheffield Music Hub show would provide them with firsthand experience to draw upon in their coursework, enhancing their critical thinking, analytical skills and overall academic achievement.

 Some quotes from the students after the show -  “It was brilliant, such a fun night” “I really enjoyed it, Aje was my favourite” “Sunburst were my favourite, I’ve been following them on TikTok for ages and had no idea they’d be there”

and from teaching staff-  “What an amazing experience for our students. Some of them have never been to a concert before and for them to see live music performed at such a high standard was just great. Thank you to all involved”

 We are absolutely delighted that the students had this oppurtunity and also got to meet the City Mayor (pictured above)

An afternoon of Music and Music Therapy

One of the most enjoyable things about being part of our Charity is meeting all the wonderful people who are providing music projects across the City.

One of the People we have recently been able to support with a grant is Daniel Johnson. Daniel is a Sheffield-based musician and award-winning educator. He teaches percussion across the city through Sheffield Music Hub and is passionate about creating inclusive musical opportunities. Daniel created an afternoon of live, gentle music for service users and staff and introduced a music therapist who offered drop-in music therapy sessions, giving attendees a chance to experience and learn about its benefits.

The project began with food and drinks and a brief outline of the afternoon's activities. These included:

• A free jamming session with stage instruments, allowing attendees to try keyboards, percussion, drum kit, guitars, bass guitar, and vocal mics.

• A Samba drumming session, which was so popular it led to an impromptu parade down the street!

• Drop-in music therapy with Nick Maher

• Performances by a jazz pianist and a concert violinist.

The event received some really positive feedback:

“The event was well-planned and inclusive.”

“The music session was creative, social, friendly, and fun. Flourish community members are eager for the next event.”

“The event was successful, empowering attendees. The music performance set a positive tone. The Samba workshop fostered a sense of community. The music therapy drop-in could be improved with written information. The event created a therapeutic space and sense of belonging.”

Voice Academy's Disneyland Dream

The Voice Academy, renowned for its exceptional singing lessons and voice training, recently embarked on an ambitious journey to take 27 students to Disneyland Paris to perform on one of the main stages and in the parade. These students are ages from 7-17.

They have students whose families struggle financially, but didn’t want their child to miss out on this amazing opportunity. They also have SEN students joining them and can’t wait to give them this opportunity to perform. The Academy have been fundraising for the last 6 months to help with the costs of the trip. The students have been amazing at fund raising so far, but they are hoping to raise another £1000 to offer some financial support to those families who need it.

We are thrilled to announce that our grant has been awarded to the Voice Academy! This means that their dream of taking their students to Disneyland Paris is becoming a reality. We can’t wait to see them shine on the stage and in the parade, making unforgettable memories. We are incredibly proud to be part of this journey and look forward to seeing the impact of our grant.

 Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to empower dreams and make a difference! Remember, every dream begins with a voice. And we’re here to ensure every voice is heard.

You can find out more about The Voice Academy here!