A Birmingham charity that each week supports hundreds of Birmingham schools and teaches music to thousands of Birmingham school children, has been declared a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Charity Awards. It is the only Birmingham-based charity to have been shortlisted in the Awards.

Services For Education is one of three charities shortlisted by judges in the Arts, culture and heritage category of the Charity Awards – which this year celebrates its 25^th anniversary. It is the second time that Services For Education has been a finalist in the category. In 2022 it was judged winner – particularly for the charity’s response to the pandemic and its work in ensuring music education and school support continued in Birmingham despite lockdowns.

The charity’s work in expanding the number and range of music ensembles in the city has been particularly highlighted as has its work in developing a new initiative – Music Cares – which is a partnership between Birmingham Virtual School (the umbrella body that oversees the education of children in care in Birmingham) and the charity.

Two representatives of Services For Education will be at the ceremony as guests of the Charity Awards to attend the Awards’ presentations on July 3 at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel where they will be welcomed at a red-carpet reception, followed by dinner and an evening of awards and celebration.

“We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in what is regarded as the UK’s most prestigious award for charities and third-sector organisations,” said Services For Education Chief Executive, Sharon Bell.

“The entry for these awards is demanding, requiring detailed information on not just what we deliver but the success and outcomes of our work. With so many truly excellent charities in the country, we recognise we face formidable competition. We are looking forward to meeting our peers, learning from what they do and celebrating the UK’s charity sector which does so much for communities across the UK and indeed the world,” said Sharon.

In recent years, Services For Education has significantly expanded its free services to support Birmingham school children as well as adults and disadvantaged groups. In six-years, it has doubled its music ensembles in Birmingham to 113 – supporting 4,000 young musicians. These ensembles have become integral to their school communities with regular performances at school events, assemblies, and celebrations – elevating the profile of music within schools, inspiring other students to participate and creating a culture where musical achievement is celebrated alongside academic and sporting success.

Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Services For Education on making the highly coveted shortlist.

“For a quarter of a century, the Charity Awards has been showcasing and celebrating the terrific work of UK charities large and small,” said Matthew.

“At a time when the charitable sector is struggling with higher costs, shrinking donations and ever-increasing demand for its work, it is reassuring and inspiring to see the extent and quality of charitable activity that is still going on across the country.

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; we know that times are tough, and you should all be very proud of getting this far. We wish Services For Education the best of luck on the night.”

ENDS

For further information:

Public and media relations for Services For Education:
David Clarke
E: [email protected];
M: 07808 735255

About Services For Education:

An education and training charity based in Birmingham, Services For Education brings music and learning to life. Services For Education employs more than 200 staff delivering music tuition to children, and expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. It has annual income of £6.9m (Y/E August 2023). Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fundraising and subsidised commercial operations.

• Services For Education’s School Support Service provides expert training and development to teaching and support staff in nearly 600 schools in the West Midlands and increasingly across England, to improve practice and ensure teachers are best equipped to respond to developments in curriculum and policy. As a leading provider of safeguarding education, Services For Education works with 400 schools delivering training in-person and on-line. It also delivers innovative programmes to support the physical and emotional health of children and young people through Health for Life and other community-based activity.
• Services For Education’s Music Service, one of the largest in the country, works with 98% of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children – as well as running 113 free ensembles. It provides 27,000 musical instruments free-of-charge so all children have access to playing and enjoying music together and its Youth Proms at Symphony Hall give 4,000 young musicians the opportunity to perform to an audience of more than 10,000. It also runs music schools, has a world music department, provides private music tuition to all ages as well as working with partners to deliver music and choral opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Its award-winning Online Music Educational Resource was completed and launched free to schools in 2021 to appeal to a young IT-connected audience attracted to learning online and to complement traditional tuition.
• servicesforeducation.co.uk

Issued on behalf of:

Services For Education
Unit 3 Holt Court
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
Aston
Birmingham B7 4AX