Triumph for the Transformation Trust

14th July, 2010

Yesterday [Tuesday 13 July] children's charity, The Transformation Trust, hosted a star-studded event at The O2 arena in London to celebrate its first birthday. Around 12,000 pupils and teachers had a fantastic time singing, dancing and screaming at the free end-of-term party for schools from across the country.

The party, which was hosted by kiss 100's breakfast show presenters Rickie, Melvin and Charlie, kicked off with headliners The Saturdays, closely followed by X factor finalist Stacey Solomon who sang 'happy birthday' to the Trust – with thousands of backing singers!

Five times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave presented the Young Designer Competition and the Young Filmmaker Competition awards to the wining pupils, and later in the afternoon the six Blastbeat battle of the bands finalists performed two of their own two songs before MT-Heads were named the national winners.

Up-and-coming boyband Twenty Twenty took to the stage singing their latest single, and The Wanted were up next who went down a storm with everyone.

Street dance crews Unity and Status busted some awesome moves, and the crowd was wowed by performances from Eliza Doolittle and Ironik.

Concluding the celebration was Tinchy Stryder, who performed a set including of all his hits and even offered the pupils a chance to meet him backstage!

In a review of the concert Music-News.com said: "It was the perfect end to a great celebration, and an absolute triumph for the Transformation Trust."

Pupils and teachers from across the country have said that they "loved it" and "had an amazing night". Another guest said it was "great to see so many students having a good day out together, memories are made of this".

British Gas was the lead sponsor for the event, which through its Generation Green programme and the free Energy Display Meter initiative, works with schools and communities across the country to create a greener future. Other companies sponsoring the event were Carillion, Willmott Dixon, Gleeds, Lend Lease, Capita, Interserve and Skanska. Media partners included The Times, TES, Building/UBM and Kiss.

The Trust – which has already raised in excess of £2 million – aims to give young people access to opportunities and experiences that will help develop new skills, grow in confidence, learn to work as a team, and discover hidden talents. Schools can choose from a range of extra-curricular activities – eight different projects from September 2010 - giving pupils in state schools access to the kinds of activities usually only available in the independent sector.

For more information about the Transformation Trust visit our new-look website (www.transformationtrust.org.uk), find us on Facebook or Twitter (www.twitter.com/the_ttrust)

Notes to Editors:

  • Please email news@transformationtrust.org.uk for high-res photography from The O2 concert.
  • The Transformation Trust has been established for one year and marked this anniversary with a free end-of-term concert for schools across the country at The O2 arena in London, on the 13 July.
  • The Transformation Trust has recently announced funding for eight projects which will be providing extra-curricular activities and support for thousands of pupils and teachers across England from September 2010. For the first time, the Trust will also be funding a number of projects which support families and aspiring headteachers. Visit the Transformation Trust website for further information about these projects: www.transformationtrust.org.uk/Projects/projects.html
  • The eight projects receiving funding for the academic year 2010/11 are:
    • Aspiring Minds (Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust)
    • Blastbeat
    • F1 in Schools
    • Furthering Talent (Awards for Young Musicians)
    • Magic Breakfast
    • Photofusion
    • Shakespeare Schools Festival
    • Teaching Leaders

Back to Latest news and events >>