CSR: Opera North, UNICEF, Make Some Noise

A £10,000 GRANT has been awarded to Opera North by the Ann Maguire Arts Education Foundation.

The grant will allow children to participate in creative workshops introducing them to opera, attend their first opera performance and create their own performances, to be performed at the Howard Assembly Room in January.

Opera North’s Young Explorers programme will work with four local schools to engage students in the arts through workshops.

The schools will also be invited to attend a professional performance of world-renowned Italian opera L’elisir d’amore.

Jacqui Cameron, education director at Opera North, said: “We’re delighted to receive funding from the Ann Maguire Arts Education Fund as it supports our mission to encourage people to explore the art form of opera and the work of Opera North.

“The wonderful thing about this grant is that it allows us to run a series of workshops in schools which will provide young people with the opportunity to explore the themes, stagecraft and music of opera before coming to see a live performance for the first time.”

The Ann Maguire Arts Education Fund, which is managed by Leeds’s largest independent grant-making charity, Leeds Community Foundation, is currently accepting applications. Individual bursaries of up to £500 and community group grants of up to £1,500 are available to support talented young people and projects offering engaging, innovative and fun arts activities.

Kerry Maguire, daughter of Ann, said, “The arts can provide a whole new world of inspiration for young people. We are delighted to have been able to support Opera North to deliver skills training and share their enthusiasm with local schoolchildren who would not normally be able to attend an opera and gain insight into the inner workings of an arts organisation.”

***
A TEAM from DLA Piper have completed a trek through the Simien mountains in Ethiopia for UNICEF, which is expected to raise more than £150,000.

Stephen Allender and Jayne Renshaw from the Sheffield office and Ben Robinson from Leeds all took part in the trek. They started in Addis Ababa on 2 October and then moved to Gonder, a small city at the foot of the Simien mountains, before embarking on the four-day trek, walking for up to ten hours a day.

Lucy Scallan, Head of Partnerships Development at UNICEF UK, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to accompany the group on the trek. What an amazing team! We are so grateful for their fundraising efforts that will help UNICEF to protect hundreds of children in Bangladesh through the creation of a child-friendly justice system. Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved. They can all feel incredibly proud.”

Stephen Allender, a tax manager in the finance team of DLA Piper who took part in the trek, said: “I am extremely grateful to DLA Piper and UNICEF for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing fundraising experience.

“The trek was challenging but the breath-taking scenery and the support of the team spurred us on. We would not have all made it to the summit of Mount Bwahit without the spirit of togetherness. I am very proud to have been a part of it.”

***
INDIAN diner and takeaway Abdul’s, which has outlets in Wakefield, Pontefract and Sheffield, is showing its support for Global’s Make Some Noise, the charity supporting disadvantaged youngsters, after partnering with Capital FM.

Make Some Noise Day was launched on 8 October and in conjunction with National Curry Week, which is from 12 – 18 October, Abdul’s will commit to a donation of £2,000 from the sale of curries throughout the month.

Managing director of Abdul’s, Abdul Ghafoor comments: “We already do a great deal with charities and so when Capital FM approached us regarding the Global’s Make Some Noise campaign it made sense to add some ‘spice’ to National Curry Week with a donation. We know that £2,000 will make a big difference to those who really need it.”

Gaynor Marshall, managing editor from Capital FM said: “We can’t thank Abdul’s enough for their generous donation and we hope we can encourage plenty of local people from across Yorkshire to join their fundraising efforts and get involved.

“Anyone that would like to help make a difference whilst enjoying great food should definitely visit Abdul’s this month.”

Make Some Noise, launched by media group Global, supports and promotes projects across the UK to deliver life-changing work to youngsters and their families.