Bringing Joy and Music to Hospital Wards: Supporting Theodora Children’s Charity

We’re delighted to share that the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation has awarded another grant to Theodora Children’s Charity, funding three joyful sessions with one of their brilliant Giggle Doctors at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The Giggle Doctors are no ordinary visitors. They are professional performers—magicians, musicians, balloon artists and storytellers—who bring warmth, creativity and laughter into hospital wards. One of these remarkable individuals is Dr Flowerpot, who has been a Giggle Doctor for over 13 years and is known for her watermelon ukulele, original songs, and wonderful ability to connect with children through music and play.

For children facing long hospital stays or stressful treatments, the presence of a Giggle Doctor can make an enormous difference. Hospitals can be isolating and frightening places for young people, and even more so for their families. Music and play are proven to reduce anxiety and support emotional wellbeing, yet they’re not always readily available in clinical settings. This is where the work of Theodora Children’s Charity becomes so vital.

Thanks to this grant, Dr Flowerpot will be able to deliver three sessions at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, engaging up to 55 children directly. When you include parents, carers and NHS staff who also benefit from the uplift in mood and atmosphere, the total number of people reached grows to around 160.

We had the pleasure of seeing Dr Flowerpot in action in a video shared with us. Whether singing nursery rhymes to a baby, creating a special song for a teenager, or simply humming gently alongside a child who doesn’t feel like talking, she brings an unmistakable sense of care and connection. As Dr Flowerpot says, “From the youngest baby to the almost grown teen, music reaches places where words can’t. Sometimes I sing. Sometimes I hum. But it’s always about connection—and making hospital feel just a little less scary.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Giggle Doctor visits to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, making this grant particularly special. Over the years, families have shared how much these visits mean to them. One mum told us, “Being in hospital can be really difficult, but having special visitors to the ward gives us both a mood lift. The Giggle Doctors are truly unforgettable.”

At the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of music and its ability to bring light into the darkest of times. We’re proud to support Theodora Children’s Charity in continuing their incredible work, and to help bring more music, more smiles and more hope to children and families when they need it most.

To learn more about Theodora Children’s Charity, visit www.theodora.org.uk. If you’d like to support our future grants and projects, please consider getting involved or donating today.

Empowering Young Musicians at Seven Hills Senior School

At the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of music. That’s why we are incredibly proud to support Seven Hills Senior School in their mission to create an inclusive and inspiring musical environment for their students. Their commitment to ensuring that every learner, regardless of ability or background, has access to music is truly inspiring.

Seven Hills Senior School has worked hard to cultivate a culture where all music is celebrated and respected. Their approach has encouraged students to gain confidence in enjoying and sharing music, both inside and outside of school. By offering a flexible and accessible curriculum, the school ensures that every student has the opportunity to develop their skills, express themselves, and connect with others through music.

With the help of our grant, Seven Hills is expanding its music provision to introduce guitar lessons, allowing students to develop new instrumental skills. Many students face barriers to accessing instrumental tuition outside of school, but this initiative will provide them with the basics and guide them towards free learning opportunities at home. The school also plans to establish a guitar group where older students can mentor younger ones, fostering peer support and collaboration.

In addition to instrumental learning, Seven Hills is enhancing its vocal program. Many students love singing and sharing their voices with their peers, and by providing microphones, they can build their confidence, refine their skills, and fully enjoy performing for others.

This investment in music will provide long-term benefits for the students, from developing motor coordination and communication skills to boosting self-esteem and emotional expression. The tactile nature of musical instruments, particularly guitars, is especially valuable for many students, offering an engaging and meaningful way to interact with music.

Seven Hills Senior School’s dedication to ensuring equal access to music is truly inspiring, and we are honored to play a part in their journey. At the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we firmly believe that music has the power to bring people together, enhance well-being, and create life-changing opportunities. We look forward to seeing the impact of this initiative and celebrating the achievements of the talented students at Seven Hills!

#PowerOfMusic #InclusiveEducation #MusicForAll #SevenHillsSchool

Empowering Communities Through Music and Making: Our Grant for Maker{Futures}

At The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of music to bring communities together, inspire creativity, and create lasting impact. That’s why we’re thrilled to support Maker{Futures}, an initiative from the University of Sheffield that champions maker education in schools, libraries, museums, and community spaces.

Our latest grant will help fund Maker{Music}, a fantastic new project designed to upskill community members—particularly library and community centre staff—so they can facilitate family workshops in making musical instruments from recycled materials. Through hands-on learning, participants will not only gain maker skills but also learn accessible teaching methods to write simple compositions and digitally record music using traditional and non-standard notation.

Maker{Futures} has a strong track record of fostering creative learning environments and empowering individuals with hands-on skills. Their Maker{Move} programme has already brought mobile makerspaces to schools, libraries, and community groups, while their Maker{School} initiative is helping shape a maker-focused curriculum in education. With 30 schools already engaged and a Maker{Library} award launching soon, the impact of their work continues to grow across South Yorkshire.

Music and making go hand in hand, and Maker{Music} will provide a new avenue for creativity. By equipping community members with the skills and resources to lead their own music-making sessions, the project will help families come together to explore sound, composition, and instrument creation—all while using sustainable materials.

With our support, Maker{Futures} will be able to provide resources and training for library and community centre staff to lead family workshops, develop printable and downloadable educational materials—including demonstration videos—to ensure long-term accessibility, supply starter kits with craft resources and essential materials to kick-start music-making sessions, and organise an in-person training event at the University of Sheffield, as well as an online training session to reach a wider audience.

By the end of this partnership, community members will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to teach simple notation and composition techniques, use GarageBand and other digital tools for recording music, construct both tuned and untuned percussion instruments from recycled materials, and run independent, sustainable music-making workshops in their own communities. While the primary focus is on upskilling library and community staff, there’s also potential to extend this training to teachers, school workshops, festivals, and museums. We’re excited to explore how this initiative can evolve to reach even more people and further promote the power of music and making.

We are delighted to partner with Maker{Futures} on this project and can’t wait to see the impact it will have on Sheffield and South Yorkshire communities. Music has the power to unite, uplift, and inspire, and through Maker{Music}, we hope to ignite a new wave of creativity and collaboration.

If you're as passionate as we are about the power of music, stay tuned for updates on this exciting project! Together, we can make a difference—one beat, one note, and one maker at a time.

Supporting Valley Music Festival's Easter Workshop for Young Musicians

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is proud to support young musicians by providing a grant for Valley Music Festival's "MAKE A NOISE" Easter Holiday Workshop at Stocksbridge High School. This one-day immersive experience will give young participants the opportunity to explore different instruments and vocal techniques, helping them to develop their musical skills in a fun and supportive environment.

The MAKE A NOISE workshop is designed to introduce students to a wide variety of instruments, providing them with both taster sessions and one-to-one tuition. Led by a talented team of musicians, the workshop aims to inspire creativity, encourage collaboration, and build confidence in young performers.

Participants will start the day with a lively jam session, setting the tone for an exciting and engaging experience. They will then have the opportunity to explore different instruments and vocal options before breaking into small group sessions for focused learning. One-to-one tuition will allow students to deepen their understanding of their chosen instrument, culminating in an informal sharing session where they can perform for their peers.

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is dedicated to making music accessible to all, especially young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in musical education. By funding initiatives like this workshop, the charity ensures that music remains a vital and enriching part of children’s lives.

The Valley Music Festival has been a key supporter of young musicians in the Stocksbridge and North Sheffield area since its revival in 2018. The festival brings together performers from diverse musical backgrounds to raise funds for music education, providing resources, scholarships, and volunteer support to local schools. Since its relaunch, the festival has hosted a wide range of concerts, community events, and educational workshops, all aimed at strengthening the region’s rich musical tradition.

Thanks to generous donations from organisations like the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, Valley Music Festival continues to create meaningful opportunities for young musicians. The impact of this support ensures that students can access the tools and mentorship they need to thrive, fostering the next generation of talented performers.

Together, we are ensuring that music education remains a vibrant and accessible part of our community. Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved and make a difference through the power of music!

Supporting Community and Music: Our Grant to the Sharrow Festival

We are delighted to announce that we are awarding a grant to support the Sharrow Festival’s special one-day event this year. This funding will ensure that the local community still gets to enjoy a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and togetherness, despite the main festival taking a gap year.

The Sharrow Festival has been a cornerstone of community life for over 26 years, bringing together people from all walks of life to enjoy live music, local crafts, and delicious food. It plays a crucial role in supporting Sheffield’s diverse music scene, with two stages showcasing local talent across a total of 15 hours of performances. With over 80 stalls run by craftspeople, charities, churches, and social services, the festival also contributes directly to local livelihoods in one of the city’s most economically challenged areas.

While the main festival takes a break this year to raise funds for 2025, this one-day music event will ensure that the spirit of Sharrow Festival lives on. Taking place in the historic Sharrow General Cemetery, the event will provide an inclusive and accessible space for families, music lovers, and the wider community to come together.

Our funding will help deliver a free, eight-hour music festival in the Sharrow General Cemetery, featuring performances from around eight Sheffield bands, offering a platform for both established and emerging artists. It will provide an opportunity for approximately 1,000 attendees to gather, enjoy live music, and experience the cultural richness of the area while supporting the Sharrow Festival Committee, enabling them to take a necessary gap year to raise funds for the 2025 event. Additionally, it will boost morale in the community, as the cancellation of the main festival was met with disappointment, and offer a chance for local musicians to develop their performance skills and connect with audiences. This event will also strengthen community ties through music, culture, and shared experience

Sharrow has a long and rich history of music and creativity. Once known as ‘Little Sheffield’ for its light industries, the area has evolved into a hub for musicians and bands. Iconic groups like Def Leppard and Arctic Monkeys got their start in local rehearsal spaces, and today, around 45 bands continue to hone their craft in the area. By supporting this event, we are investing in the future of Sheffield’s music scene and helping to sustain a cherished community tradition.

We believe in the power of music and community to bring people together, lift spirits, and create lasting memories. The Sharrow Festival’s resilience and commitment to keeping the music alive in 2025 embody these values, and we are proud to be part of their journey.

We look forward to seeing the community come together for this special event and celebrating the incredible talent Sheffield has to offer.

See you at the festival!

Family Voice Sheffield CIC

We are absolutely thrilled to support Family Voice in their inspiring work with migrant women in Sheffield. This grassroots organisation has been making a profound difference in the lives of local women for years, providing accessible, trauma-informed support that empowers women to build confidence, resilience, and community networks.

At a time when so many families are facing hardship, Family Voice’s holistic, long-term approach is more important than ever. Whether offering one-to-one support, running creative programmes, or working closely with local foodbanks and schools, this organisation understands that when you support women, you support families and entire communities.

We are delighted that our grant will help fund a new music therapy programme, designed to support women experiencing isolation, ill health, and hardship. Over an 11-week term, a music therapist will work with a small group of women, using music as a powerful tool to improve mental health, encourage self-expression, and develop coping strategies for life’s challenges. The impact of this kind of work cannot be overstated—music has the ability to heal, to connect, and to bring joy even in the most difficult times.

Family Voice has already seen great success with creative programmes such as their Art for Mental Health initiative and collaborations with a local gamelan group. These projects have demonstrated how the arts can create safe, inclusive spaces where women can explore their creativity, build friendships, and gain confidence. We are so excited to help them expand their creative offering through this new music therapy programme.

We also recognise the immense dedication and commitment of Family Voice in ensuring that this project is sustainable. By match-funding the costs of room rental, refreshments, and project management, they are demonstrating a strong commitment to making this initiative a success. Their ability to work closely with women, responding to their needs with warmth and care, is what makes this organisation so special.

We can’t wait to see the impact this music therapy programme will have, and we are so proud to be part of this journey. Thank you, Family Voice, for the incredible work you do every day to support women and families in Sheffield!

Supporting Spring Tank Studios Jazz Camp for Girls 2025

At The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation we are committed to breaking down barriers in the arts and ensuring all young people have access to creative opportunities. That’s why we’re proud to support Jazz Camp for Girls 2025, a fantastic initiative by Spring Tank Studios that introduces girls aged 8-14 to the joy of jazz music.

To celebrate International Jazz Day, this one-day camp provides a supportive and inspiring environment where participants can explore improvisation, rhythm, and ensemble playing. Led by professional jazz musicians Nicola Farnon and Dave Sheard, the camp will give young girls a chance to develop confidence, musical skills, and a sense of community

Currently, women represent only around 20% of the jazz industry. By engaging girls at a crucial stage in their development, this programme encourages them to see themselves as future musicians, breaking down gender imbalances in jazz.

We believe in the power of music to inspire, build confidence, and create lasting connections. By supporting Jazz Camp for Girls 2025, we are helping to shape a more inclusive future for young musicians.

Find out more about Spring Tank Studios and their work here

TheSarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation and WaterBear College BA (Hons) Scholarship

We are honoured and excited to be partnering with WaterBear College of Music to offer a full-tuition BA (Hons) scholarship at its Sheffield campus. This incredible opportunity aligns with our mission to support music education and provide access to those who might not otherwise have the chance.

 Our charity was founded in memory of Sarah, the powerhouse behind Tramlines Festival, our charity is dedicated to funding music education and opportunities for underprivileged individuals. Sarah believed in the power of music to bring people together, and we continue her legacy by helping the next generation of musicians thrive.

 The Scholarship is launching in Spring 2025, this scholarship will fully fund a three-year BA (Hons) degree (£27,750) at WaterBear Sheffield. It’s open to passionate and driven students who want to build a career in the music industry and contribute to Sheffield’s vibrant music scene.

 We’re thrilled to be working with WaterBear to create life-changing opportunities for aspiring musicians.

 For more details, visit: [WaterBear Scholarships](https://waterbear.org.uk/scholarships/)