About Us

SFE is an award-winning charity which creates opportunities for disadvantaged children, young people and adults in Birmingham.

About SFE

Services For Education is a registered charity (Charity no. 1148848). We use the power of learning and music to create and build confidence amongst children, young people, adults and communities across the city of Birmingham. Our mission is to bring music and learning to life.

The charity was formed in 2012, with the aim of providing more opportunities for children of all ages and abilities in Birmingham to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

Since then, our music ensembles and community based music projects have helped thousands of young people engage in music, impacting lives in so many ways. We have also worked with adults and people with disabilities in the community, bringing music to within their reach.

We know that music has a profound impact on children because we witness it every day. We have a vision to reach as many children across Birmingham as possible, sending them on a journey through music, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.

We receive no statutory or government funding towards our work, and as a registered charity, financial donations and support are vital in enabling us to continue to deliver our projects, grow our reach and engage those who need it most.

2023 WINNER
EXCELLENCE IN SEND (MUSIC AND DRAMA)

In partnership with Soundabout

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2022 WINNER
THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE AWARD

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2022 WINNER
OUTSTANDING CHARITY OF THE YEAR

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Services For Education Limited

Company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales No. 07739831
Registered charity in England and Wales No. 1148848

CE: Sharon Bell

Our charity is overseen by a dynamic board of Trustees:

Chair of Trustees: Martin Hall

Trustees: David Bolton, Sarah Smith, Joanna Cooney, Clive Stone, Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo, Dr Jory Debenham and Shimri Vachter.

We bring learning and music to life

Read our Annual Review >

As well as our charity projects Our work comprises:

Music provision – working with young people, schools and a number of strategic partners, we enable, enhance and enrich the music education available to students in and around Birmingham.
School Support – we offer a comprehensive programme of professional development and school improvement for those working across the education sector, aiming to improve practice, policy and ethos in leadership and strategic management, workforce and curriculum development.
Private Music lessons – with over 50 years’ experience of delivering music education we have started two new Birmingham-based Music Schools seeking to bring music to the masses through provision of high-quality lessons and access to free instrument loans for people of all ages.

Our Impact

Music develops key skills such as literacy, language and numeracy in children of all ages, as well as listening and communication.

Engaging with music promotes positive mental health and wellbeing of those taking part, it can sooth and relax or it can energise and uplift. It offers an opportunity to enjoy a shared experience, whatever a person’s age. Our projects make people feel part of something special, whether this is a choir with people similar to themselves, an activity they’ve not been able to do before or a music ensemble with school friends.

Our music activities try to engage as many ‘hard to reach’ people as possible, encouraging creativity and exploration of music, bringing music to people who it may not otherwise reach. We give them opportunities to learn, train and perform, promoting confidence and belief.

Our free ensembles reach thousands of school children across Birmingham every year, opening up opportunities to perform on prestigious stages locally, and nationally, sharing their progress and passion with peers and audiences.

“Children who were normally reserved and who struggle to pay attention during work time, got involved, playing instruments, imitating noises and copying actions in songs. It was amazing to see!”

Brays Tile Cross School

“Soundtots is a great initiative that helps develop children’s communication skills through music. We have found that the pupils who are musically driven, have really enjoyed the sessions. The sessions have helped to develop their oracy, memory, and communication skills. In addition, pupils who are rather timid, have grown in these sessions – it has helped to boost their self-confidence. We have loved the sessions and are grateful that our pupils can participate, as they thoroughly enjoy them!”

Teacher, Westminster Primary School (Soundtots participant school 2018-21)

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Teacher, Westminster Primary School (Soundtots participant school 2018-21)

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“M has had an outstanding musical year! They have maintained their enthusiasm for their instrument, practising regularly at home and attending rehearsals and playing in concerts with the central ensemble. They recently performed at the Midlands Arts Centre and are currently preparing for the Youth Proms at Symphony Hall in July.”

Teacher feedback (Music Cares project, 2023)

“More than anything this is just a thank you and a testimony to the music service and the staggering work you all do. I’ve just finished my first year of freelancing after graduating from the RCM and have been incredibly lucky to have performed with most of London’s major orchestras, including London Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Opera House, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have played Principal Horn with English National Opera and London Chamber Orchestra. The further I progress in my career, the more and more I get back to thinking that I just wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the opportunities that the music service gave to me.”

Jacob Bagby – Ensembles Member

Our Projects

For more information on our individual charitable projects, please click below to deliver our projects, grow our reach and engage those who need it most.