City charity wins top training gong
Birmingham charity Services For Education has been judged ‘Best Training Provider or Educational Establishment of the Year’ in the Midlands Service Excellence Awards 2024.
The charity, now in its twelfth year, brings music and learning to life and supports and works with Birmingham schools delivering music tuition to children, along with expert training and development to teaching and school support staff.
It employs more than 200 staff and has an annual turnover of nearly £7m. Part funded by the Arts Council England it also has its own fund-raising and subsidised commercial operations.
Sharon Bell, Services For Education’s charity’s chief executive - who received the award with Sarah Caldwell, the charity’s Fundraising Manager - said they were honoured to receive the accolade.
“We have a dedicated team who go above and beyond to support schools, teachers, students and the community and this award is for them,” she said after the award presentation.
“As finalists, we were amongst distinguished company representing the very best in education and learning. We are very proud to be the overall winner but all of us carry the torch for improving standards in our schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.”
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.
Meanwhile, Services For Education’s Music Service works with 93 per cent of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children – as well as running 97 free ensembles.
It also 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.
The Midlands Service Excellence Awards, first established in 2018, celebrate and honour individuals and organisations which demonstrate exemplary commitment to service excellence and leadership across various industries in the Midlands.
Pictured: Sharon Bell (left) with Sarah Caldwell and the award
