STUDENTS FROM 6 ACADEMY SCHOOLS RELEASE COLLECTIVE CHARITY SINGLE COVER OF ‘TOGETHER’
Students from six Academy schools in the Midlands and Buckinghamshire have joined forces to release a new charity single cover of ‘Together’, to raise awareness of NHS Charities Together and to boost their mental health.
The students’ collective rendition of ‘Together’, originally performed by Christian pop duo For King & Country, with Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin, pays tribute to all those who have suffered bereavement, loss, and rising levels of anxiety during lockdown.
The charity single and music video involved 30 students from Grace Academies in Coventry, Solihull and Darlaston, Lord Grey Academy, Rushden Academy, and Elizabeth Woodville North and South, who combined their musical talents to spread a message of hope to others.
Launched at a time when public singing is prohibited and students’ mental health and resilience have been put to the test, the Song Project was organised by Grace Foundation’s Ethos Teams, funded by IM Group, that work within specific Tove Learning Trust (TLT) Academies.
Student Harvey Dean from Grace Academy Solihull said that taking part in the Song Project was a really positive experience, adding:
“It gave us something uplifting to do in what have been quite a tough time. The song is pretty inspiring, especially for people who have been through a difficult time in the pandemic. It feels good to be part of something that will help to spread hope to people who have suffered in this time.”
Commenting on the Project, Dave Boden, Ethos Team Leader, Grace Foundation, said:
“Our Ethos Teams have been helping to support students who have suffered loss and bereavement, rising anxiety levels and poor mental health during lockdown.
“The Song Project has been an amazing opportunity to encourage students to join together as a collective and do something they love, while supporting and spreading hope to others at the same time.
“We want to use the song as a platform to raise the profile of NHS Charities Together, something very relevant to families everywhere, and as a big thank you for all the hard work Frontline NHS Staff have done during this period and beyond.
Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, says:
“Thank you, Grace Foundation for creating the wonderful song ‘Together’. It’s fantastic to see students come together to celebrate the resilience they’ve shown over the past year and use the opportunity to thank, and raise funds for, NHS Charities Together. The money raised will help us to continue to go the extra mile in supporting our NHS workers, volunteers and patients at the centre of this crisis and beyond.”
PHOTO CAPTION
IMAGE: TOGETHER CHARITY SONG VIDEO
Students from 6 Academies perform for Charity Song Project to support NHS Charities Together.
ABOUT GRACE FOUNDATION
Goal and outcomes
Grace Foundation’s goal is to establish 10 Partner Schools by the end of 2023, reaching over 10,000 young people and their families annually.
Grace Foundation is committed to working with schools from the inside out to support the aspirational, relational and spiritual needs of students and their families through the work of their Ethos Team.
The Foundation’s approach to education focusses on developing the whole person, enhancing student wellbeing, and improving OFSTED outcomes to help transform school communities.
The Ethos Team has conducted over 120,000 student engagements during this academic year across 7 Academy Schools, including 1,643 support group places taken through interventions, 870 student mentoring sessions, and 4,057 family support interventions
Behind these statistics are the real stories of individual lives that have been changed such as:
· The student who has hit 30 days free from self-harm
· The student who hasn’t had a suicidal thought in 3 months
· The family who found breakthrough and support after long term family trauma
The measured impact of their programmes demonstrates evidence of improved attendance, emotional wellbeing (against National Scales) and help for families as a whole through practical and financial support to parents.
History and funding
Grace Foundation was incorporated in 2003 with a vision to transform young people’s lives through holistic education. The charity originally operated alongside the Grace Academy Trust and it were the original sponsor of an Ethos Team that was, and still is, integrated within three Grace Academy schools in Solihull, Coventry and Darlaston.
In April 2019, the Grace Academy Trust transferred the ownership of the three Grace Academies to Tove Learning Trust (TLT). At the same time a decision was made to continue the sponsorship of the Ethos Teams via Grace Foundation and expand their work into new schools and spheres of influence.
The Charity has always been funded by Lord Edmiston and his business endeavours through IM Group. Our Partnership with IM Group has enabled us to outwork our shared long-term goal for every child to be brought up in an environment where they are given the opportunity to reach their maximum potential in life.
Published by PRFire