We are delighted to announce our latest Large grant recipients, December 2024. Ritetrax, St. Lukes Hospice and Slambarz

Supporting RiteTrax: Empowering Communities Through Creativity

We are proud to support RiteTrax, a Sheffield-based social enterprise that transforms lives through the power of creativity. Established in 2015 by Michael Thompson and Adam Seymour, RiteTrax emerged from their lived experiences with challenges such as unemployment, mental health struggles, and involvement in the criminal justice system.

RiteTrax provides opportunities for vulnerable adults and young people, including those recovering from multiple disadvantages such as low income, addiction, and social isolation. Through inclusive workshops, one-to-one support, and grassroots cultural events, they offer participants a chance to build confidence, learn new skills, and be part of a supportive community.

The Impact of Our Funding

Our grant will fund 20 one-to-one support sessions for beneficiaries in spring 2025. These sessions will provide up to five individuals with focused guidance and creative opportunities, helping them improve their mental health, well-being, and self-esteem. Activities include music production, instrument learning, songwriting, and live performance—equipping participants with skills that promote personal growth and social inclusion.

RiteTrax’s work is making a tangible difference:

• In the past 18 months, they’ve supported over 150 individuals, 80% of whom face multiple disadvantages.

• Nearly half of their participants are aged 30 or younger, with this group reporting particularly high levels of mental health challenges.

• The diverse mix of participants—25% from marginalised gender backgrounds and 49% from ethnic minority communities—promotes community cohesion and inclusivity.

Why This Matters

By funding this project, we are helping RiteTrax provide vital access to cultural activities for those who often feel excluded. The sessions offer more than creative skills—they foster a sense of belonging, boost mental health, and inspire hope for the future.

We are proud to partner with RiteTrax and support their mission to uplift vulnerable members of the Sheffield community. Together, we’re empowering individuals to create, connect, and thrive Click this link if you would like to find out more about .Ritetrax and the work they do

Supporting St Luke’s Musical Therapy Program

We are delighted to fund St Luke’s latest initiative, a 12-week music therapy program at their Ecclesall Road South (ERS) site in Sheffield. St Luke’s provides compassionate care for individuals living with terminal illnesses, and this new project is designed to enhance the well-being of patients and their families through the transformative power of music.

This grant will fund a musical group leader, Julia Waldron, to guide participants in writing and producing a song that reflects what St Luke’s means to them. Julia will also teach patients how to play the ukulele, fostering joy and connection through music.

The program will engage 24 participants: 12 in a singing group and 12 in a ukulele group, with additional integration planned with St Luke’s creative writing group. Sessions will be open to patients, families, and bereaved individuals, ensuring a holistic approach to support. Participants include those with early-stage diagnoses, cancer, COPD, MND, Parkinson’s, and other palliative conditions.

Music therapy offers significant benefits, including:

• For COPD patients: Breathing exercises integrated into music therapy improve breathing, reduce depression, and enhance exercise endurance.

• For Parkinson’s patients: Music stimulates brain areas associated with rhythm and movement, encouraging physical activity, improving motivation, and enhancing quality of life.

• For all participants: Music therapy alleviates stress, combats loneliness, and provides a sense of shared joy and purpose.

Sessions will also incorporate Makaton for patients with speech impairments, ensuring inclusivity for those who have lost their voices due to illness or treatment.

St Luke’s will evaluate the program’s impact at the start and conclusion of the sessions, assessing improvements in mental health, confidence, and overall well-being.

By supporting this initiative, we are proud to help St Luke’s continue their vital work in offering care, connection, and joy to those facing the challenges of terminal illness. Together, we’re making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

To find out more about their work click Here

Supporting the Slambarz Development Initiative

We are proud to support the transformative work of Slambarz, a vibrant project creating opportunities for young people in Sheffield aged 14-26 who are passionate about rap, hip-hop, and other urban music genres. By engaging with young people from diverse and often precarious backgrounds, Slambarz fosters a sense of belonging, creativity, and ambition, while providing pathways into the creative industries.

Through outreach in schools, youth clubs, Pupil Referral Units, and care leaver events, Slambarz connects with young people and invites them to participate in workshops, mentorship sessions, and competitions. These events culminate in inspirational nights at venues like The Leadmill, where talented young artists compete for prizes including studio time, music video production, and live performance opportunities.

With funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority Creative Communities Programme, Slambarz expanded its impact in 2024 by training and mentoring 12 previous winners to become “Slambassadors.” These young leaders shared their journeys in schools, colleges, and youth groups, co-running workshops and pop-up events. Their work culminated in a wider and more diverse pool of participants and audiences for Slambarz events, creating ripples of positive change across Sheffield.

To sustain and grow this momentum, Slambarz plans to extend its reach in 2025 with the support of a Sarah Nulty Large Grant. This funding will empower the Slambassadors to deliver new outreach activities, including:

• Pop-Up Performances for Care Leavers and Refugees
  Hosting an inspiring performance and workshop for care-experienced young people and young refugees at Sharrow Community Forum.

• School and Alternative Provision Visits
  Engaging students in mainstream schools and alternative provisions to inspire participation in future workshops.

• Spring "Come and Try" Event
  A day of hands-on workshops at Site Gallery featuring lyric writing, beat making, camera work, and social media training.

All outreach activities will feed into the flagship Summer Slambarz Competition, offering another six young people the chance to win artist development prizes and perform at Tramlines 2025 or take part in behind-the-scenes creative roles.

Slambarz is a powerful example of how peer-led initiatives can inspire change. By investing in young leaders and giving them a platform to share their stories, the project builds confidence, combats isolation, and provides tangible pathways into education and employment.

We are thrilled to support Slambarz in their mission to amplify young voices, nurture creativity, and inspire the next generation of Sheffield’s artists and innovators.

To find out more about Slambarz visit their website here

Anns Grove Primary School

As a music charity, we are always thrilled to support young people in their musical endeavours. We are delighted to announce our latest grant to Anns Grove Primary School, a school located in a deprived area of Sheffield that serves a diverse and vibrant community.

The school is dedicated to providing its pupils with a broad and engaging education, and music plays a vital role in this mission. Anns Grove is currently rewriting its music curriculum to ensure it not only teaches children how to play instruments but also introduces them to a wide variety of musical styles and cultural traditions. The planned curriculum covers genres ranging from folk and classical to electronic music, reggae, and ska, aiming to inspire creativity and expand pupils’ cultural horizons.

A key part of this new approach is embedding the use of different instruments into each year group. This ensures that every child has the opportunity to explore and play a variety of instruments as they progress through the school, laying the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of music.

Anns Grove already showcases its pupils’ musical talents through seasonal performances, historically featuring the school choir and children receiving individual tuition. Recently, the school celebrated the debut of its first "school band," with many more pupils eager to take part in group performances. However, limited funding over the years has made it challenging to maintain and expand their stock of instruments.

The grant will help Anns Grove purchase a class set of glockenspiels, introducing children to tuned percussion and providing a stepping stone for learning the piano. Currently, the school has only 12 glockenspiels, many of which are broken and lack sharps and flats, restricting their use.

By enhancing its music curriculum and improving access to high-quality instruments, Anns Grove Primary School aims to enrich its pupils' education and contribute to Sheffield's musical culture and heritage. We are proud to support this effort and look forward to seeing the positive impact on the school and its community

Celebrating Jazz and Community: Footprints Jazz Festival

We are delighted to announce a grant awarded to Footprints Jazz Club in support of their Jazz Festival. This initiative aims to enrich Sheffield’s vibrant music scene by showcasing a wide range of talent and positioning the city as a destination for live music, particularly jazz, improvisation, and eclectic styles.Footprints Jazz Club

Footprints Jazz Club is committed to supporting Sheffield’s contemporary jazz scene and fostering inclusivity, creativity, and community spirit. Through their work, they connect diverse groups across the city:

• Musicians at All Levels: Footprints provides a vital platform for emerging and established jazz artists. Through open jazz jams and diverse artist bookings, the club enables performers to hone their skills, collaborate, and gain live performance experience.

• Underrepresented Voices: Prioritising diversity, Footprints amplifies the voices of artists from varied backgrounds, ensuring a broader representation within the jazz genre and contributing to a more inclusive music community.

• Local Audiences: By hosting accessible and welcoming events, Footprints cultivates an appreciation for live music among seasoned jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Their performances feature a blend of local talent and well-known artists, showcasing a dynamic range of styles.

• Young Talent: Open jazz jams offer younger musicians a supportive space to experiment and grow, encouraging the next generation of jazz artists.

• Local Economy: Footprints events drive audiences to venues and businesses, indirectly supporting Sheffield’s creative economy and sustaining enterprises that rely on live music.

The Jazz Festival builds on these efforts, featuring a diverse programme of performances and collaborations. Key initiatives include regular jam sessions at venues like Alder Bar and Hagglers Corner, partnerships with organisations such as Key of She to promote female and non-binary musicians, and plans to work with the University of Sheffield to further integrate jazz into academic and cultural settings.

Through this grant, the Footprints Jazz Festival will continue to celebrate jazz while fostering inclusivity, talent development, and a vibrant sense of community in Sheffield. If you wish to find out more about them you can find it here: Footprints Jazz Club

Brightside Music bringing Music to Sheffield’s Healthcare Settings

In Sheffield, Brightside Music is enriching lives through interactive live music in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and community centres. They focus on reaching people of all ages who, due to health needs or isolation, have limited access to musical experiences. Not only do patients benefit, but families and healthcare staff find joy and comfort in these musical interactions too.

The sessions are participant-led, allowing individuals to engage in ways that feel comfortable—be it singing, moving, playing accessible instruments, or simply listening. The musicians believe that everyone is a musician and that music has the power to enhance anyone's life.

Our grant will provide funding for a new mini-project at Sheffield Children’s Hospital bringing three half-day sessions to young patients in the hospital’s Critical Care, Oncology, and Neurosciences wards, where long stays often mean missing out on typical music experiences. Funding covers musician fees and preparation to ensure the sessions meet patients’ unique needs. Musicians Becky and Aisling will perform on violin, clarinet, ukulele, and vocals, offering children, families, and staff the chance to sing, direct the music, and participate in meaningful ways.

With a history of success at institutions like AGE UK Sheffield, St Luke’s Hospice, and Leeds Children’s Hospital, these musicians continue to show that live music can transform healthcare environments, fostering connection, calm, and creativity for those who need it most.