Award-winning Services For Education, whose continuing work with Birmingham schools during the pandemic has been widely applauded, has appointed additional trustees as part of its bid to deliver a strategic plan to 2025.
The charity, which employs more than 200 people and uses the power of learning and music to create and build confidence amongst children, young people, adults and communities, has appointed three well-known and well-connected figures to join its existing board of five.
The three new trustees are David Bolton, Head of Tax and Treasury International for Cardtronics; Paul Davies, the BAFTA nominated and Royal Television Society winning television and digital producer, and Clive Stone DL, CEO of LCS Professional Services Ltd and former Chairman and CEO of a leading Midlands’ catering and events company.
“These new appointments bring further extensive commercial and creative expertise to our board. Each of our new trustees shares a passion for seeing lives transformed through education and all have previously shown a real and committed interest in our work and in our future,” said Martin Chitty, a trustee and Chair of Services For Education and a partner at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP.
The new appointees join the other existing trustees – Selwyn Calvin, Chief Operating Officer for Learning Link Multi Academy Trust; Matthew Clements-Wheeler, Director of Support Services. Bordesley Green Girls’ School and Sixth Form; Sarah Smith, Diocesan Director of Education at Church of England in Birmingham, and Laura Williams, Strategic Projects Lead (Policy & Public Affairs) at Cancer Research UK.
Established in 2012, Services For Education is part-funded by the Arts Council, England, and includes the Music Service, one of the largest in the country that teaches music to 38,000 children, and the School Support Service which provides expert and professional training and development to teaching and support staff in 570 schools in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Commenting on his appointment, David Bolton, who is a frequent concertgoer at the Music Service’s performances, said: “I’ve been playing the trumpet since aged 10, met my wife through music, and now my three children learn brass instruments through Services for Education.
“Having trained with a Birmingham accountancy practice, I am now fortunate to work for the world’s largest cash machine deployer with teams around the world. I know how music can bring communities together locally and globally. Birmingham, as a multi-cultural world music city, can be proud of its music heritage and the way it encourages its young people to enjoy music and participate in a universal language.
“I am excited to have this opportunity to support Services For Education as it looks to the future.”
Paul Davies, who runs independent TV production company and digital agency Vyka and who started his career as a teacher, said: “Services For Education is very focused on creating opportunities – whether that’s extending the educational scope for a child from a disadvantaged background, a young and talented musician who needs skills and mentorship to grow, a newly qualified teacher wanting to develop their career, or for the charity’s staff – who are managed with compassion to have fulfilling careers.
“I am keen to give something back to the city and further afield. Services For Education has great potential to develop in the region and nationally. It has that rare combination of integrity and ambition and a long and sustainable future.”
Clive Stone, who is also a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, said: “Having been privileged to attend a number of Services For Education’s concerts, I am aware of the excellent work they undertake and am looking forward to supporting them particularly at this very challenging time.
“I was identified at the age of 25 that I was dyslexic, which is why I have no formal academic qualifications. I will always be grateful to the college lecturer who identified my potential and despite not having the required O levels insisted I had the capability to undertake a management course. It is a privilege to be able to support young people achieve their potential.”
Sharon Bell, Chief Executive at Services For Education, said the recruitment process started prior to the pandemic but the new appointments were timely in supporting the organisation as it continues to respond to the significant changes to the environment in which it operates and the ‘new normal’.
“We have already implemented a programme to re-engineer our business model. Although much of our work in recent months has been to ensure that school children can still benefit from music lessons and take part in performances, and that teachers and support staff can participate virtually in our training courses, we are now implementing our ‘Emerging Stronger’ recovery plan. We look forward to our new trustees bringing their expertise to enable that recovery to continue,” said Sharon.