Ed Sheeran calls on PM for £250m of music funding

A Framlingham superstar has banded together with some big names to call on the Prime Minister for long-term funding to UK music education.

Shape of You singer Ed Sheeran wants the Government to commit £250 million to “repair decades of damage”.

In an open letter, co-signed by a host of famous names, including Harry Styles and Sir Elton John, Sheeran said he wanted Parliament to protect and grow the future of the sector.

He said: “Learning an instrument and getting up on stage, whether in school or a community club, is now a luxury not every child can afford.

“As an industry, we bring in £7.6 billion into the UK economy, yet the next generation is not there to take the reins. Last year was the first in over 20 years without a UK global top 10 single or album in the charts.

“The time to act is now. State schools, which educate 93 per cent of the country’s children, have seen a 21 per cent decrease in music provision.

“Artists and the wider industry cannot deliver on the world stage without schools, youth clubs and stages at home. We collectively ask for a £250 million UK music education package this spring to repair decades of dismantling music.”

This follows on from the launch of the multi award-winning artist’s Ed Sheeran Foundation in January – a nationwide initiative aimed at providing inclusive, high-quality music education.

The foundation, which has already impacted more than 12,000 children and young people, campaigns for music funding in schools, training for music teachers, funding for grassroots venues, apprenticeships and a diverse music curriculum.

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