Services For Education has been judged Outstanding Charity of the Year in the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards 2022.

The Birmingham-based charity – which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary – has been recognised for its work in bringing communities together. Two of its initiatives were particularly cited – its development of its World Music Department which has become the largest in the UK bringing the full breadth of music to Birmingham reflecting the city’s diversity, and its innovative Health for Life programme which to date has engaged with 226,000 children and adults in Birmingham to encourage healthier family lifestyles.

The awards’ dinner, at The National Conference Centre Birmingham on Saturday 19th November, was the biggest occasion in the Asian business calendar celebrating and showcasing the work and achievements of businesses and charities.

Services For Education employs more than 200 staff in Birmingham delivering music tuition to children, and expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fund-raising and subsidised commercial operations.

Ten awards, plus overall Business of the Year, were presented at the dinner on the night.

Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, who received the award on behalf of the charity, said she was thrilled that its work amongst all communities had been recognised.

“Our work touches lives throughout Birmingham, whether young or old. Our World Music Department has increased interest in playing music instruments from all parts of the globe so every child of every ethnicity in Birmingham, can participate.

“Health for Life has been instrumental in improving health and wellbeing. It is for all Birmingham schools but is particularly appropriate for children with South Asian and African heritage who may face specific health issues. It also enables children to understand other cultures, lifestyles and food.

“Receiving this accolade is a great honour and I pay particular tribute to my colleagues who work so hard to deliver such innovative programmes,” she said.

 

Picture caption:

L to R: Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, with Becky Farnworth, Head of Operations of category sponsor OTD, Stuart Birnie, Head of Music Service at Services For Education and Harjit Singh, Head of World Music and Percussion at Services For Education.

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 2020). Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fund-raising and subsidised commercial operations.

• Services For Education’s Music Service, one of the largest in the country, works with 93% of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children – as well as running 97 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.

 

Awards

Services For Education has been recognised regionally and nationally for its work:

 

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce Awards:

2022: Outstanding Charity of the Year (winner)

Bett Awards:

2022: Transformational Impact (finalist)

Birmingham Awards:

2018: Contribution to Education (winner)

2021: Excellence in Education (finalist)

Birmingham Post Business Awards:

2018: Not-For-Profit Organisation of the Year (finalist)

The Charity Awards:

2022: Arts, culture and heritage (winner)

Education Awards:

2019: Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community (winner)

2021/22: Transforming lives through partnerships (finalist)

Educational Resources Awards:

2019: The Educational Book Award (finalist)

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Annual Awards:

2021: Excellence in Contribution to the community (finalist)

2021: Excellence in Training and Education (winner)

2020: Excellence in Sales & Marketing (finalist)

2019: Excellence in Training & Education (winner)

2018: Excellence in Training & Education (finalist)

Music & Drama Education Awards:

2022: Excellence in Primary/Early Years (Highly Commended)

2021: Outstanding Music Education Resource (winner)

2021: #Goldstars Awards

2020: Excellence in SEND (finalist)

West Midlands Tech Awards:

2021: Innovation in Education (winner)

Services For Education’s Annual Review for 2021 is available here: https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/annual-report-2021/

Issued on behalf of:

Services For Education

Unit 3 Holt Court

Holt Street

Birmingham Science Park

Aston

Birmingham B7 4AX

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