It’s good to connect – and that’s exactly what one Tower Hamlets charity has been empowered to do after bagging a £60,000 grant from the City Bridge Trust. The news comes as music to the ears of everyone associated with Sound Connections; an organisation that works to provide young people opportunities to make music across London.
Over the past 10 years the charity has worked in partnership with a range of organisations to strengthen the music sector, bridge gaps in provision, and deliver landmark programmes.
Research undertaken in 2013 found an overwhelming demand for support for high-quality music education activities to help London’s young people facing challenging circumstances. In response, Sound Connections set up the Challenging Circumstances Music Network to roll out peer-to-peer support and new chances for shared learning.
Philip Flood, director of Sound Connections, said that the long-term support of City Bridge Trust, which will free up finance over the next three years, will enable the charity to expand and develop its network.
“In particular we will be able to strengthen and improve how they monitor, evaluate and report on the impact of their work to funders and other supporters,” he added. Meanwhile, the City Bridge Trust has also pledged £165,000 to a charity looking to change the lives of refugees who face extreme poverty and homelessness whilst seeking asylum.
The Asylum Crisis Project, run by Refugee Action, operates out of Westminster and was established in 1981. “The project is doing vitally important work having already helped 89 individuals and families last year,” explained City Bridge Trust director David Farnsworth.
“Volunteers are trained on specialist asylum support issues and are providing invaluable help, steering refugees through what can sometimes be a long and difficult process. “It is great that we are able to support such a worthwhile project which is already changing lives.”
