Last week, Ed Sheeran returned to Coventry to surprise young students and launch 2 new music projects.
Both projects are part of the Ed Sheeran Foundation (ESF) in partnership with Coventry Music, which is part of Coventry City Council, and St Giles Trust.
Ahead of his show at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday 5 December, Ed Sheeran and his foundation spent the afternoon meeting pupils, headteachers, representatives from Coventry Alternative Provision Academy, Cardinal Wiseman Secondary School, Coventry Music and St Giles Trust.
During his visit he introduced 2 new initiatives, 'Access to Music Industry' and 'Your Voice', and heard directly from the young people who will benefit from them. This follows his visit to the city in January, when he met with Coventry Alternative Provision Academy which received new studio equipment funded by ESF, Barrs Hill School and the TIN Music and Arts.
Both 'Access to Music Industry' and 'Your Voice' will help ensure young people are provided with the relevant tools and support to pursue pathways in music and stay engaged with the school system.
The announcement of the new programmes follows ESF’s work in engaging with the UK Government to update the National Curriculum. The changes, which were announced last month, include 2 key points ESF advocated for: the removal of the Ebacc system to encourage students to take a wider range of GCSE subjects, including the music and the arts, and the diversifying of genres taught in the music curriculum.
'Access to Music Industry' is an innovative new partnership between Coventry Music and the Ed Sheeran Foundation, designed to support young people who could benefit from additional guidance as they explore creative pathways. As part of his visit to Coventry, Ed met with 21 secondary school leaders from across the city to discuss strengthening music education.
During the meeting, the leaders pledged to offer their continued commitment to music education including instrumental and vocal lessons alongside the standard music curriculum to better support pupils aspiring to careers in the creative sector.
The visit comes with the news that ESF will fund 1 young person from each of the secondary schools he met with across the city. The selected students will have access to a dedicated day per week of bespoke provision focused on developing the skills needed to access the music industry. In return, participating schools have committed to fund the future 2 years of the programme.
Working with Coventry Music, the Ed Sheeran Foundation will bring industry professionals to Coventry throughout 2026 and 2027 to provide students with valuable insights, mentoring and pathways into the music industry.
The second programme which was launched, 'Your Voice', is a ground-breaking music programme for vulnerable young people. Delivered in partnership with St Giles and Coventry Music, and funded by the Ed Sheeran Foundation, it is a powerful, music-led intervention service designed to transform outcomes for 11- to 17-year olds who are at significant risk of violence and exclusion from education. Launching in Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, which is where it will operate, the programme combines Coventry Music’s high-quality tuition with St Giles’ nationally recognised lived-experience mentoring model.
Over the next 12 months, 40 young people will access weekly music sessions, trauma-informed mentoring and industry masterclasses to gain accredited music qualifications. From Grime, Pop, Rock Soul, Dance, Drill to the Brum music scene, every element has been co-designed to reflect the voices and cultures of Coventry’s young people.
As the lead provider, St Giles will offer intensive one-to-one lived-experience mentoring; a proven model that helps young people build trust, regulate emotions, process trauma and stay engaged. Coventry Music will deliver specialist tuition, accredited learning pathways, and facilitate visits from industry professionals including producers, songwriters and behind-the-scenes creatives.
Faye Parklen, Head of Education Entitlement and Enrichment, at Coventry City Council, said:
“We are so grateful to Ed and his Foundation for giving Coventry young people an incredible opportunity to take part in a funded programme which will give them a genuine route into the music industry. We know that this programme which is being delivered though the Coventry Alternative Provision Pathway will open up opportunities for young people to access different industries. This new programme really shows how working in partnership can make a difference to the lives of young people.”
Tracey Burley, Chief Executive at St Giles Trust, said:
"St Giles is deeply grateful to the Ed Sheeran Foundation for supporting this vital area of our work. Your Voice will engage young people at risk of violence and exploitation through a powerful combination of music and mentoring. For the young people we support, music is more than creativity — it is a safe outlet, a source of motivation, and a bridge into education, wellbeing and the creative industries. This partnership will help young people be heard, heal, and build new futures.”
Laura Burtonwood, Principle of Cardinal Wiseman School, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Ed Sheeran to our school today. His visit was an extraordinary source of inspiration for our pupils, showing them first-hand what can be achieved through hard work, creativity, and perseverance. Ed’s warmth, humility, and genuine interest in our young people made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful for the encouragement he has given our school community and the wider Coventry community”
Dr Renuka Fernando, CEO at the Ed Sheeran Foundation, said:
“When Ed and ESF visited Coventry earlier this year, we were inspired by the young talent on the ground. After meeting several students, teachers and music staff, it became clear that there was both a real desire and a real need to shine a spotlight on music, not only to ensure young people have the right equipment and opportunities to pursue their passions, but also to strengthen the life skills that music education helps develop. As a foundation, we are partnering with organisations at all levels - schools, councils and charities - to give the young people of Coventry the right access to music, which we hope will raise aspiration across the city. Music is a transformative, powerful subject that offers invaluable life skills, and it’s important to us that it’s not seen as a luxury but as a pathway all young people can pursue, no matter their background.”