The artist met and chatted with Welsh music students from Ministry of Life Education in Cardiff
Global music sensation Ed Sheeran made a surprise visit to Ministry of Life Education in Cardiff, a groundbreaking initiative funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
The project, which aims to upskill young artists in the region, received a significant boost from Sheeran’s visit, inspiring participants and highlighting the importance of arts education.
Ministry of Life (MOL) Education is an organisation based in Cardiff that provides an alternative route to education for young people aged between 16 to 25 who are at risk of becoming, or are already, not in education or employment.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the Splott-based organisation received a grant of over £400,000 to offer music and multimedia courses that help young people develop skills such as rapping and recording, as well improving their confidence and self-esteem.
A spokesperson for MOL said: “Ed Sheeran made a surprise visit today to the project and jammed with our talented students. The place was buzzing and we can’t thank Ed enough for what him and his new foundation have done for us and our young people.”
The visit marked the official launch of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, an initiative designed to support youth music education across the UK through grant-making, raising awareness, and fostering collaborations. Speaking about the foundation, Ed said: “Music education has shaped who I am. I’ve always enjoyed playing music, and it’s led to some of the best moments of my life.”
In March 2024, MOL Education held a launch event for their brand-new music studio, The Container. Housed in an old shipping container, The Container offers state-of-the-art recording facilities for students to develop and record their own music.
Students at MOL Education take either the level 1 or 2 BTEC award in Music and Video Production, and work holistically on their qualifications.
The National Lottery Community Fund awards grants to strengthen society and improve lives across the UK, supporting activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Andrew Owen, Head of Funding in Wales for The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Ministry of Life Education CIC is an incredible organisation with a passion for making the arts and music accessible to excluded young people. We’re proud to have supported the organisation with a grant of over £400,000 and it’s incredible to see that they are being recognised on a global scale for their exceptional commitment to supporting young people through the arts and music in Welsh communities.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To support its work with young people in Cardiff over recent years, Ministry of Life Education CIC has received grants from both the National Lottery Awards for All and People & Places funding programmes. To find out more about this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, visit our website here.
The National Lottery Community Fund Blog 