Many learners attending a local Academy have been unable to experience success within mainstream education, often in crisis and requiring a trauma-informed approach to engage in the curriculum. With barriers, such as SEND needs and poor behaviour the school’s approach to personal development in education aims to provide students with lifelong skills.

Providing musical education enables creative practice and social cohesion with other school students from mainstream education. Music and singing helps foster confidence and as the academy’s secondary-aged students are some of the most vulnerable in society, beginning with developing voice and breathing skills will have beneficial results.

Teaching students to write and develop lyrics and music, will assist with another key aspect in their journey of learning, as music in this form is not available due to budget constraints. It will help social cohesion with pupils from other schools, providing visibility of alternative ways to live and behave, and hopefully form friendships. It is further envisaged that students benefiting from this education will eventually be able to perform in public events.

The grant from the Foundation will provide a year of part funding for a singing teacher to run workshops over 25 weeks and 5 concerts as a joint initiative with a local church and private donations.