There are many ways #YouCan support Services For Education, as an individual, but also by becoming a Corporate Partner. One of the key ways our Corporate Partners support us is by volunteering time and skills to support our projects.
Paul Painter, Commercial Photographer and Ensembles parent, joins us at the 2025 Youth Proms offering his photography expertise and capturing some truly magical moments at Symphony Hall, whilst also donating some of the proceeds from photography sales to SFE.
A huge thank you to Paul for his support. It’s hugely appreciated by the whole team here at SFE and the finished pictures were absolutely brilliant, really capturing the magic of the event and passion of our SFE Ensembles musicians.
Scroll down to read more about Paul’s experience…
Commercial photographer, Paul Painter, discusses what inspired him to get involved in SFE’s Youth Proms…
“Both of my sons have been part of Services For Education’s (SFE) Music Ensembles for several years now – Freddie playing the flute and Jamie playing the guitar.
Watching their musical journeys has been an absolute joy. My wife and I have seen their talent not only grow but flourish, often surprising us – and even themselves – with what they can achieve.
But more than that, we’ve seen how much joy and confidence music brings into their lives.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible encouragement and dedication of the SFE staff.
Their support has been second to none. I’ll be honest – when the boys first joined, I had no idea that SFE was actually a charity. I didn’t stop to think about where the funding for instruments, rehearsals, and performances came from – I just knew my sons were being given these amazing opportunities.
It was at one of the Festive Concerts when the compere mentioned the charity aspect and asked for people to think about supporting them. It sparked a thought – ‘I run my own photography business, surely there’s something I can do to help?’
Fast forward (quite) a few months, lots of emails and conversations and we came up with the idea of Proms Photography sessions. These gave the performers an opportunity to capture their magical moments at Birmingham Symphony Hall, either individually or with their friends. Like school photos, but much funkier! Even better, I was able to do this and donate the proceeds to SFE.
Over the four days I must have taken thousands of photos and, although this is what I do for a living, it was hard work. But it was great fun – getting to meet and chat with so many of the young musicians and hearing about their experiences; some experiencing their very first Youth Proms, and others celebrating their last one before heading off to university and other adventures.
What struck me most was how much it meant to each of them and the impact it had on them. I also got to speak to some of the staff who work tirelessly to make these opportunities happen and ensure everything runs smoothly, both on-stage and behind the scenes, offering further insight into the charity.
Looking back, I’m so glad I reached out to see how I could contribute. It showed me that support doesn’t always have to come in the form of a big cheque – sometimes it’s about offering your time, your skills, or even just an idea, as the team will work with you to make it happen. And whatever you can give, big or small, really does make a difference.
So, if you’ve ever thought about getting involved with SFE, I’d say: do it. You’ll be part of something that not only changes young people’s lives, but brings so much joy along the way.”
Paul Painter, Owner, Paul Painter Photography.
If you are interested in becoming a Corporate Impact Partner of Services For Education, then please get in contact with Sarah Caldwell (Fundraising Manager) at [email protected]
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At Services For Education (SFE) everything we do is to support our mission to bring music and learning to life. With your support, #WeCan achieve this mission.
#SFECan bring music to life for more people. #MusicCan change lives. #YouCan help to change lives by supporting SFE.
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