Two Birmingham music enthusiasts are swapping musical chords for rip cords in a bid to raise funds for a Birmingham music education charity.

Money Chopra, Cluster Sales Manager at Malmaison and Hotel du Vin Birmingham, and Mohammed Ali Ashraf, IT Apprentice at Services For Education, have volunteered for a charity sky dive to raise funds for charitable music delivery projects run by Birmingham charity Services For Education.

They both plan to take to the skies as part of the first tandem skydive fundraising event for award-winning Services For Education which is best known for its music teaching in Birmingham schools but whose charitable activities also include community choirs, inclusive choirs and music ensembles – that were recently highly commended in the national 2025 Charity Awards.

Weather permitting, the duo plan to undertake the tandem sky dive on Saturday, August 23 harnessed to the front of a fully qualified parachuting instructor from 14,000 ft reaching a speed of 120 mph, followed by approximately five-minutes descent under parachute.

Money, aged 33, who is also Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2024 award in Hospitality, Retail and Events, admits to being nervous.

“Outside work, I’m a dedicated martial artist but there’s a twist: I’m terrified of heights,” she said.

“That’s why skydiving is a huge personal challenge for me. I’m taking this leap (literally!) to raise money for a charity close to my heart that transforms lives through learning and music. This isn’t just about conquering fear, it’s about creating real impact.

“Music has helped me navigate through tough times and find peace within myself and through fundraising I want to create opportunities for others to experience the same,” said Money who is also an Executive Committee Member of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce in Birmingham.

Ali, aged 18, said that since joining Services For Education in October 2024, he had been impressed with the work the charity undertakes – particularly its work with both young and old alike.

“I’m supporting Services For Education because our vital work enables people to transform their passion for music into a special talent. Our support has a lasting impact and I’m proud to help raise funds for this mission.

“I’ve always been keen to challenge myself and develop both personally and professionally and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push my limits while supporting a great cause,” said Ali who is part of the charity’s EDE team.

Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, said she was delighted that Ali and Money had agreed to undertake such a brave challenge to enable the charity’s work to develop further.

“This is our first skydive venture and we are thrilled to have two keen enthusiasts to fly the flag and support our great charitable work,” said Sharon.

“I wish them every success and hope they enjoy going to such heights to help our cause.”

Services For Education employs more than 200 staff delivering music tuition and expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. It also runs music schools and delivers music and choral opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

Those wishing to support Money and Ali in their bid to raise charitable funds for Services For Education, can do so by visiting their fundraising sites:

Money Chopra is fundraising for Services For Education Limited

Mohammed Ali Ashraf is fundraising for Services For Education Limited

Those who wish to take on a personal challenge of their own for Services For Education should contact fundraising@servicesforeducation.co.uk

ENDS

    

Left: Mohammed Ali Ashraf, IT Apprentice at Services For Education

Right: Money Chopra, Cluster Sales Manager at Malmaison and Hotel du Vin Birmingham

For further information on Services For Education:

David Clarke, Clarke Associates, (Public and media relations, Services For Education)

E: david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk;

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 £7.1m (2023/2024). Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fundraising and subsidised commercial operations.

• 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.
• 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. servicesforeducation.co.uk

Issued on behalf of:

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