Voices Foundation wins quarter of a million-pound grant
Voices Foundation, a leading charity that transforms music education, is delighted to announce receipt of a generous grant award from Paul Hamlyn Foundation of £257,000 over three years. This is the largest grant in the 29-year history of the Voices Foundation.
The award will extend Voices Foundation’s reach and impact in music education making it possible for Voices to benefit more pupils experiencing systematic inequality and barriers of learning; deliver specialist work in evidence, learning and evaluation; and further advance our staff training and development programmes.
Voices Foundation, which reaches over 50,000 children across the UK and mentors 1,405 teachers is committed to ensuring that music is accessible and inclusive for all. The quality of school-based music education is unacceptably variable and children attending schools facing additional challenges or with fewer resources are disproportionately affected. The award builds on the research Voices have undertaken with PHF, which shows that music activity can create an accessible environment through which children experiencing disadvantage can learn, as well as supporting their language and communication skills.
Rigorous research and evaluation are intrinsic to Voices work. This award will enable Voices to collect in-depth data and the resulting insights will be used to continuously improve the delivery of our singing programmes, increasing positive outcomes for school staff, children and young people. We will also share our learning with sector colleagues to help develop wider strategic conversations around music education in the UK.
Voices Foundation CEO, Manvinder Rattan, said:
“I am so proud that Voices Foundation has been awarded such a substantial grant by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. It demonstrates the worth of the work we do and the effects it has on teachers and through them, the well-being, and futures of our children. The grant will help power our evaluation work which in turn will help drive up the quality of what we do.”
The funding awarded is from a £30 million pot which is distributed across six funding priorities where PHF wish to see change. Their commitment to social justice underpins all these priorities. This Fund supports work which enables pupils in formal education settings, particularly those experiencing systemic inequality or disadvantage, to thrive through engagement with high quality, arts-based learning.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. He died in 2001 and left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK. PHF use their resources to support social change, working towards a just and equitable society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.
Voices Foundation has been working alongside teachers and school communities since 1993 to transform music education, supporting children’s wider skill development and wellbeing through accessible and inclusive singing programmes. We provide Continuing Professional Development and Learning for educators, inspiring content for parents and in-depth research and evaluation. Whether you are a Headteacher, music teacher or parent/guardian contact Voices Foundation to discuss how we can help your school become a singing school for the next academic year.
Press contact
George Ofori: George.ofori@voices.org.uk
020 4542 0402