Supporting Community and Music: Our Grant to the Sharrow Festival

We are delighted to announce that we are awarding a grant to support the Sharrow Festival’s special one-day event this year. This funding will ensure that the local community still gets to enjoy a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and togetherness, despite the main festival taking a gap year.

The Sharrow Festival has been a cornerstone of community life for over 26 years, bringing together people from all walks of life to enjoy live music, local crafts, and delicious food. It plays a crucial role in supporting Sheffield’s diverse music scene, with two stages showcasing local talent across a total of 15 hours of performances. With over 80 stalls run by craftspeople, charities, churches, and social services, the festival also contributes directly to local livelihoods in one of the city’s most economically challenged areas.

While the main festival takes a break this year to raise funds for 2025, this one-day music event will ensure that the spirit of Sharrow Festival lives on. Taking place in the historic Sharrow General Cemetery, the event will provide an inclusive and accessible space for families, music lovers, and the wider community to come together.

Our funding will help deliver a free, eight-hour music festival in the Sharrow General Cemetery, featuring performances from around eight Sheffield bands, offering a platform for both established and emerging artists. It will provide an opportunity for approximately 1,000 attendees to gather, enjoy live music, and experience the cultural richness of the area while supporting the Sharrow Festival Committee, enabling them to take a necessary gap year to raise funds for the 2025 event. Additionally, it will boost morale in the community, as the cancellation of the main festival was met with disappointment, and offer a chance for local musicians to develop their performance skills and connect with audiences. This event will also strengthen community ties through music, culture, and shared experience

Sharrow has a long and rich history of music and creativity. Once known as ‘Little Sheffield’ for its light industries, the area has evolved into a hub for musicians and bands. Iconic groups like Def Leppard and Arctic Monkeys got their start in local rehearsal spaces, and today, around 45 bands continue to hone their craft in the area. By supporting this event, we are investing in the future of Sheffield’s music scene and helping to sustain a cherished community tradition.

We believe in the power of music and community to bring people together, lift spirits, and create lasting memories. The Sharrow Festival’s resilience and commitment to keeping the music alive in 2024 embody these values, and we are proud to be part of their journey.

We look forward to seeing the community come together for this special event and celebrating the incredible talent Sheffield has to offer.

See you at the festival!

Family Voice Sheffield CIC

We are absolutely thrilled to support Family Voice in their inspiring work with migrant women in Sheffield. This grassroots organisation has been making a profound difference in the lives of local women for years, providing accessible, trauma-informed support that empowers women to build confidence, resilience, and community networks.

At a time when so many families are facing hardship, Family Voice’s holistic, long-term approach is more important than ever. Whether offering one-to-one support, running creative programmes, or working closely with local foodbanks and schools, this organisation understands that when you support women, you support families and entire communities.

We are delighted that our grant will help fund a new music therapy programme, designed to support women experiencing isolation, ill health, and hardship. Over an 11-week term, a music therapist will work with a small group of women, using music as a powerful tool to improve mental health, encourage self-expression, and develop coping strategies for life’s challenges. The impact of this kind of work cannot be overstated—music has the ability to heal, to connect, and to bring joy even in the most difficult times.

Family Voice has already seen great success with creative programmes such as their Art for Mental Health initiative and collaborations with a local gamelan group. These projects have demonstrated how the arts can create safe, inclusive spaces where women can explore their creativity, build friendships, and gain confidence. We are so excited to help them expand their creative offering through this new music therapy programme.

We also recognise the immense dedication and commitment of Family Voice in ensuring that this project is sustainable. By match-funding the costs of room rental, refreshments, and project management, they are demonstrating a strong commitment to making this initiative a success. Their ability to work closely with women, responding to their needs with warmth and care, is what makes this organisation so special.

We can’t wait to see the impact this music therapy programme will have, and we are so proud to be part of this journey. Thank you, Family Voice, for the incredible work you do every day to support women and families in Sheffield!

Supporting Spring Tank Studios Jazz Camp for Girls 2025

At The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation we are committed to breaking down barriers in the arts and ensuring all young people have access to creative opportunities. That’s why we’re proud to support Jazz Camp for Girls 2025, a fantastic initiative by Spring Tank Studios that introduces girls aged 8-14 to the joy of jazz music.

To celebrate International Jazz Day, this one-day camp provides a supportive and inspiring environment where participants can explore improvisation, rhythm, and ensemble playing. Led by professional jazz musicians Nicola Farnon and Dave Sheard, the camp will give young girls a chance to develop confidence, musical skills, and a sense of community

Currently, women represent only around 20% of the jazz industry. By engaging girls at a crucial stage in their development, this programme encourages them to see themselves as future musicians, breaking down gender imbalances in jazz.

We believe in the power of music to inspire, build confidence, and create lasting connections. By supporting Jazz Camp for Girls 2025, we are helping to shape a more inclusive future for young musicians.

Find out more about Spring Tank Studios and their work here

TheSarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation and WaterBear College BA (Hons) Scholarship

We are honoured and excited to be partnering with WaterBear College of Music to offer a full-tuition BA (Hons) scholarship at its Sheffield campus. This incredible opportunity aligns with our mission to support music education and provide access to those who might not otherwise have the chance.

 Our charity was founded in memory of Sarah, the powerhouse behind Tramlines Festival, our charity is dedicated to funding music education and opportunities for underprivileged individuals. Sarah believed in the power of music to bring people together, and we continue her legacy by helping the next generation of musicians thrive.

 The Scholarship is launching in Spring 2025, this scholarship will fully fund a three-year BA (Hons) degree (£27,750) at WaterBear Sheffield. It’s open to passionate and driven students who want to build a career in the music industry and contribute to Sheffield’s vibrant music scene.

 We’re thrilled to be working with WaterBear to create life-changing opportunities for aspiring musicians.

 For more details, visit: [WaterBear Scholarships](https://waterbear.org.uk/scholarships/)

Supporting the Devonshire Green Stage at Tramlines Fringe Festival

JuJu Club, has been at the heart of Sheffield’s world music scene for over three decades, dedicated to showcasing diverse musical talent and creating opportunities for underrepresented artists. Their mission is to provide music-based entertainment to the public, organise fundraising events, support and advise organisers of music events, and promote musicians from minority ethnic backgrounds. They are also committed to nurturing young music makers by providing opportunities for them to develop and perform.

For 36 years, JuJu Club has played a key role in promoting world music events in Sheffield, including managing the Sharrow Festival—a free multicultural event with two music stages—for 18 years. Since the Tramlines Festival began in 2009, they have taken responsibility for its community-based side, working alongside Sarah Nulty, whose support was vital in ensuring Tramlines remained an inclusive and accessible festival for the people of Sheffield. Every year, apart from during the height of Covid, they have programmed and managed a stage in the Peace Gardens or, more recently, on Devonshire Green, always aiming to entertain family-based audiences while maintaining high musical quality.

When Tramlines moved to Hillsborough, many in Sheffield campaigned for a free festival to remain in the city centre, staying true to Tramlines’ roots. With the support of Sheffield Council, they established the Tramlines Fringe Festival, ensuring that accessible, community-driven performances remained a vital part of the event.

Sarah Nulty was passionate about the power of music to unite, uplift, and create opportunities for those who might otherwise be overlooked. Her vision for Tramlines was one of inclusion, ensuring that music remained a force for good in Sheffield. The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation continues this work, supporting projects that use music to change lives.

This grant will enable Sparkle Sistaz, Tracks, and Blue Street Brass to perform on the Fringe Stage, providing a platform for diverse talent and celebrating Sheffield’s grassroots music scene—values that Sarah championed throughout her life.

At JuJu Club, they believe that music has the power to inspire, heal, and bring people together. With our support they can continue to provide opportunities for grassroots musicians and ensure that the Tramlines Fringe remains a truly inclusive celebration of Sheffield’s musical diversity.

We look forward to seeing these talented musicians take the stage. If you would like to learn more about our work or get involved, please get in touch.

Let’s keep music alive in Sheffield!

Celebrating Musical Diversity in Sheffield: Supporting Young Talent through Pattern & Push

We are proud to continue our commitment to nurturing young musicians in Sheffield by supporting diverse music projects that foster talent and inclusivity. One such initiative is Pattern and Push, a programme empowering young singers, rappers, and producers across South Yorkshire.

Pattern and Push provides young vocalists and musicians with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to develop their talent and pursue careers in music. Their mission aligns closely with ours: promoting inclusivity and opportunity in the arts.

Here’s why this programme matters:

• Talent Development & Resources – It equips young musicians with essential tools to hone their craft and build a successful career.

• Mentorship & Empowerment – Through training, workshops, and guidance, the programme helps aspiring artists overcome challenges and thrive.

• Inspiring & Transformative Music – It encourages artists to create music that promotes personal growth, social change, and well-being.

• We are thrilled to announce that our grant will fund studio time for the winner of the Pattern + Push 2025 competition. Open to vocalists aged 16-30 from South Yorkshire, this competition offers emerging artists the chance to professionally record and release a high-quality song.

The winner’s track will be promoted on social media and shared with radio stations, maximising exposure and providing a crucial stepping stone in their musical career. With professional production and marketing support, this initiative will help young artists gain visibility, confidence, and opportunities for growth.

From orchestral workshops to contemporary music competitions, our grants aim to create meaningful opportunities for young musicians. By investing in initiatives like Pattern and Push, we contribute to a richer, more inclusive musical landscape for Sheffield and beyond.

We extend our gratitude to Pattern and Push for their dedication to empowering young artists. We look forward to witnessing the incredible talent emerging from the Pattern + Push 2025 competition and beyond.

Together, we can celebrate and support the transformative power of music.

To find our more about the incredible work they do visit Pattern & Push