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Musical Connections: Arts for Impact Campaign

Friday 7 March 2025

We're participating in the Arts for Impact campaign! From March 18-25, all donations to OAE through The Big Give will be doubled.

We are raising funds to support our national Education Programme, Musical Connections.

The Musical Connections programme is dedicated to transforming the lives of hundreds of students with special educational needs and disabilities. Through our collaboration, we help them build confidence, enhance concentration, and improve social skills.

We are expanding and consolidating our programme to reach as more young people from different parts of the UK who do not access to music education. Our aim is to cover the fees for our wonderful OAE musicians to run the programme across in three London boroughs, Wiltshire, Plymouth, and Norfolk.

Fully funded by donations, your support will enable us to work with young people in these areas over the next 12 months.

All donations to the campaign should be made between Tuesday 18 and Tuesday 25 March (midday) via the OAE campaign page of the Big Give’s website.

“I’ve seen the children grow in confidence, I’ve seen them learn new skills, I’ve seen them throw out ideas to make compositions that you would never ever expect them to do that kind of thing. They obviously feel really, really comfortable with the musicians who have been coming in.”

Music Coordinator

Students with learning disabilities can face significant academic and social challenges at school. They are more likely to feel lonely, have poorer educational outcomes and are at a higher risk of exclusion than their mainstream peers. These challenges can have a detrimental impact on their mental health and overall well-being. Many students across the UK have little to no exposure to live music-making and performance of any kind, or the skills associated with this industry.

Music is a non-verbal medium that empowers students to express themselves and facilitates emotional regulation and coping strategies. At our partner schools, many students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and struggle to access support services.

Musical Connection enables students to work closely with OAE musicians in 1-hour sessions to compose, improvise, and rehearse music, creating inclusive pathways to wellbeing and expanding mental health support in the schools.

“Just seeing the look on her face and how happy and excited she gets when she’s playing the music has been great to see.”

Participant's parent

Arts participation cultivates vital skills that support educational, social and personal development:

Increased self-esteem, autonomy and resilience
Communication and relationship-building
Critical thinking and originality

School staff shared that providing opportunities for socialisation and life skill development for students was challenging in a formal learning setting. Musical interventions address this by providing a new environment for meaningful social connection and teamwork.

“Thank you for the music. When I play music I feel happy and free.” –

Student (Thomas Wolsey)

Founded in 2007 by Sir Alec Reed, the Big Give is a non-profit charitable website which doubles your donation when you donate through the Big Give, therefore making ‘double the difference’. To read more about the Big Give, see their website here.

Arts for Impact is a seven-day online match funding campaign supporting arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK, run in partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC).

“Musical Connections was absolutely the highlight. Seeing such a varied group of students, who would be invisible or neglected in many schools, take centre stage with a world-renowned orchestra, in front of their parents and peers to perform good quality music, exceptional in some cases, was truly magnificent.”

ABS staff member

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Musical Connections: Arts for Impact Campaign

Friday 7 March 2025

We're participating in the Arts for Impact campaign! From March 18-25, all donations to OAE through The Big Give will be doubled.

“I’ve seen the children grow in confidence, I’ve seen them learn new skills, I’ve seen them throw out ideas to make compositions that you would never ever expect them to do that kind of thing. They obviously feel really, really comfortable with the musicians who have been coming in.”

Why do we run Musical Connections?

“Just seeing the look on her face and how happy and excited she gets when she’s playing the music has been great to see.”

What's the Impact?

“Thank you for the music. When I play music I feel happy and free.” –

What is the Big Give?

Hear it first

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