SFE’s Fundraising Manager, Sarah Caldwell, reflects on the impact our Music Cares project has had on participants over the 2025/26 academic year…
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of making music.
Working in partnership with Birmingham Virtual School, the organisation responsible for supporting the education of children in care across Birmingham, our Music Cares project provides free instrument loans, weekly music lessons, ensemble experiences and performance opportunities for children and young people in care.
During the 2025/26 academic year, the project supported more than 100 children and young people, from Year 4 through to Year 11 (ages 8–16). Each participant was offered up to 33 one-to-one music lessons on an instrument of their choice, alongside the loan of an instrument, opening the door to new experiences, skills and confidence.
Celebrating Achievement
One of the highlights of the Music Cares calendar is our annual Winner-Up Primary event, held each July. Hosted this year at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), the event gave young musicians the opportunity to take part in inspiring music workshops before performing in front of an audience in a professional arts venue.
Supported by parents, carers and school staff, 18 primary-aged pupils attended the event, and following the success of previous years, we were delighted to introduce a similar Winner-Up Secondary event for the first time, with 17 secondary-aged pupils taking part.
Participants at both events enjoyed taking part in percussion and vocal workshops, along with a DJ Skills session before showcasing everything they had learned, to an audience including Birmingham Virtual School staff, social workers, school staff, family members and carers.
For both groups, the atmosphere was one of celebration, encouragement and pride, with participants demonstrating confidence, teamwork, resilience and creativity throughout the day.
The impact was clear in the feedback received:
“It was so lovely to see the confidence of the children and young people performing in front of an audience. They had clearly really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the workshops, both individually and as part of a team. It was such a heart-warming, joyous and celebratory event that ultimately looked like a lot of fun! It was great to hear the journey of the professional DJ too, as hopefully this will be a source of inspiration for some of the children in terms of the pathways they might want to take.”
– Birmingham Virtual School staff member.
“The joy and engagement from the young people was wonderful to see. They participated so well, and their teamwork, resilience and courage were remarkable. It was also lovely to see all the staff celebrating their success.”
– Birmingham Virtual School staff member.
Building Confidence Beyond the Classroom
The impact of Music Cares extends far beyond weekly lessons.
This year, participants celebrated individual musical milestones, including success in both ABRSM and Trinity College London music examinations. One young musician achieved a Pass with Distinction (94%) in Trinity Grade 4 Guitar, while another successfully completed their ABRSM Grade 2 Violin examination.
“Music Cares has provided looked after children across Birmingham with access to high-quality one-to-one music tuition, giving them not only the chance to develop musical skills but also to build confidence, resilience and a sense of achievement. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact that personalised music-making can have, and we are proud to have worked alongside a range of partners to make these opportunities possible.”
– Adam Hickman, Deputy Head of Music Service at Services For Education
For some, Music Cares has become a stepping stone to even greater opportunities. One participant who performed a solo at the Winner-Up Secondary event is also a member of our Central Ensembles and went on to perform on the prestigious stage at Birmingham Symphony Hall during this year’s Youth Proms. Other participants performed in the Jennifer Blackwell space ahead of the concerts, while several families attended the performances to celebrate the achievements of the young people involved.
Looking Ahead
Due to the nature of the children and young people we support, we are unable to share photographs of individual participants, but the images below capture moments from our Winner-Up Primary event.
Music Cares continues to demonstrate how #MusicCan create opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach for children and young people in care.
To find out more about our Music Cares project, visit our Music Cares Music Cares webpage.
About the Author
Sarah Caldwell – Fundraising Manager, Services For Education
Sarah Caldwell joined Services For Education in Summer 2023, bringing with her over 14 years fundraising experience. Working in the Birmingham charity sector, she has raised valuable funds for a range of projects impacting the day to day lives of young people with disabilities.
Sarah has experience across a number of fundraising streams (including Trusts & Foundation, Events and Corporate Fundraising), and brings this, along with a strong interest in building relationships with supporters, to her role at SFE.