SOUTHEND MUSIC ORGANISATION LAUNCHES SUMMER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO SECURE FREE PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Starting this July, The Song School, Southend-on-Sea's community music education provider, has launched a summer fundraising campaign to raise £3,000 for The Song School Fund ahead of the new academic year in September.
The campaign centres on two events - The Big Busk and The Estuary Walk - with an open invitation for supporters to take on their own fundraising challenges across the summer.
The Big Busk (1st July – 7th September) invites musicians of all ages and abilities to busk in Southend and raise money for the Fund. Participants don't need to be members of The Song School - anyone who can perform can take part. The Song School provides signage, collection buckets and QR codes for online donations. The target is £1,000.
The Estuary Walk (Saturday 8th August), sponsored by c2c Rail, is a 10-mile coastal walk from Leigh-on-Sea station to East Beach. Walkers, volunteers and supporters are all welcome. The target is £2,000.
Supporters who want to go further are welcome to organise their own fundraising challenges over the summer - from bake sales to sponsored runs - with all proceeds going to The Song School Fund.
What the money funds
The Song School Fund exists to level access to music for all children and young people, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. The Fund provides free and subsidised session places on the regular timetable and holiday workshops, for young people from low-income households, supports neurodivergent children and young people with re-imagined approaches to music education, and funds instrument and studio upkeep - including a sensory garden currently under construction. The £3,000 target would fund 15 supported session places on The Song School's regular timetable for a full year, meaning these young people can immerse themselves in the music community to explore all opportunities available to them.
Louisa, Director, Founder of The Song School says:
“Fundraising over the summer months is vital to ensure we are able to respond to the continually growing demand for our free spaces, especially as we go into our busiest intake period in the Autumn term. The support from c2c ensures we’re able to provide families of the young people we support, with certainty that they can be part of our community for a full year.”
“We’re thrilled with c2c’s continued support. Building on our partnership year on year means we’re able to provide more children and young people with opportunities to learn, make and earn in music.”
Rob Mullen, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer for GBR Anglia, said:
“We are so excited to be sponsoring The Song School’s Estuary Walk once again this year. The funds that the Estuary Walk raises make such a big difference to this amazing organisation, so I want to encourage everybody to take part and make this another great year for The Song School and its pupils.
“The partnership between c2c and The Song School, fostered over many years now, is one we’re very proud of at c2c. We pride ourselves on being a railway that is deeply rooted in our communities and this partnership is another demonstration of c2c’s dedication to its local communities.”
How to get involved
You will find fundraisers across Southend over the summer, to find out when and where, and to read more, sign up or donate directly to The Song School Fund:
