Ulster Bank & The National Concert Hall for Up the Tempo
The Business Challenge
The Ulster Bank’s Community Investment Strategy aims to invest in community programmes which deliver sustainable long-term benefits, make a difference to people's lives and positively impact on the communities in which it operate. The Bank works as partners with community and third sector organisations to deliver these programmes, which help the partners reach more people and build on their combined strengths to deliver long-term benefits. This strategy reflects the Bank’s overall commitment to high standards of corporate responsibility and a dedication to “making a difference” – particularly in disadvantaged areas.
The Solution
In partnership with the National Concert Hall and the Ulster Orchestra, Ulster Bank created an all-island musical outreach programme called Up the Tempo. This programme aims to nurture young talent in children from disadvantaged areas. They are encouraged to compose, perform and listen to music. To-date over 100 workshops have taken place in primary schools throughout Ireland involving over 5,500 children. Each of the participating schools hold a Friday lunchtime concert attended by parents, pupils and teachers, which features the music composed by the children during the workshops. To round off their learning from the programme, schools who participate in the programme are invited to attend a concert at the end of the school year, either in the National Concert Hall, Dublin or in The Waterfront, Belfast.
Benefits to the Stakeholders
The programme is delivered during the academic year in schools nominated by the Ulster Bank branch network. Awareness of the programme increased greatly as a result of media coverage and served to boost employee participation and nominations from employees. Since the initial pilot project, the partnership has strengthened further, with some additional sponsorship initiatives which complement the community outreach programme.
Up the Tempo’s impact over the past four years has been unique for a schools-based music project. By the time it reaches its natural conclusion in May 2010, it will have visited every county in Ireland. The programme has influenced the lives of many children and brought music education to new levels in many primary schools. It has left a lasting impact through its teacher-training programme and instrument boxes left for future use.
www.nch.ie
The Ulster Bank’s Community Investment Strategy aims to invest in community programmes which deliver sustainable long-term benefits, make a difference to people's lives and positively impact on the communities in which it operate. The Bank works as partners with community and third sector organisations to deliver these programmes, which help the partners reach more people and build on their combined strengths to deliver long-term benefits. This strategy reflects the Bank’s overall commitment to high standards of corporate responsibility and a dedication to “making a difference” – particularly in disadvantaged areas.
The Solution
In partnership with the National Concert Hall and the Ulster Orchestra, Ulster Bank created an all-island musical outreach programme called Up the Tempo. This programme aims to nurture young talent in children from disadvantaged areas. They are encouraged to compose, perform and listen to music. To-date over 100 workshops have taken place in primary schools throughout Ireland involving over 5,500 children. Each of the participating schools hold a Friday lunchtime concert attended by parents, pupils and teachers, which features the music composed by the children during the workshops. To round off their learning from the programme, schools who participate in the programme are invited to attend a concert at the end of the school year, either in the National Concert Hall, Dublin or in The Waterfront, Belfast.
Benefits to the Stakeholders
The programme is delivered during the academic year in schools nominated by the Ulster Bank branch network. Awareness of the programme increased greatly as a result of media coverage and served to boost employee participation and nominations from employees. Since the initial pilot project, the partnership has strengthened further, with some additional sponsorship initiatives which complement the community outreach programme.
Up the Tempo’s impact over the past four years has been unique for a schools-based music project. By the time it reaches its natural conclusion in May 2010, it will have visited every county in Ireland. The programme has influenced the lives of many children and brought music education to new levels in many primary schools. It has left a lasting impact through its teacher-training programme and instrument boxes left for future use.
www.nch.ie
School children taking part in an Up The Tempo Workshop