Community Engagement

As part of the Plaisterers’ Company commitment to community engagement, training and life-long learning in the local area, educational establishments and the associated plastering trade, we are able to support not-for-profit organisations and individuals either in kind or with financial support in the form of grants and bursaries.

Bursary values are up to £500 per applicant, however, larger sums may be awarded in individual cases if merited. The beneficiaries will probably be students currently undergoing training in the sector but may also be established practitioners who wish to enhance their knowledge or experience.

Typically, applications might be for travel expenses to support a course of learning abroad; fees for existing courses where no other support is available; wage subsidy to enable a student to pursue extra curricular skills; funding to a mentor to support achievement of advanced qualifications or costs towards enhanced disabled access to training.

The Industry Committee will give consideration to any application that supports and maintains the quality and diversity of plastering and drylining skills in the UK.

You can download and complete and application by clicking here download and print the PDF.

Eligibility – Applicants must have been resident in the UK for at least two years. They must have at least two years’ work experience ideally in the plastering and drylining sector.

Inspiring Organists and the Voces8 Foundation are two of the Charities supported by The Plaisterers’ Charity and the following two recent annual feed-back reports to the Managing Trustees highlight the positive aspects where the Charity has been able ‘to make a real difference’ in support of the education and training of children and young people.

#INSPIRING ORGANISTS

Tom Daggett OBE, the Organ Outreach Fellow at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Co-ordinator of this programme, reports that:

“Organ teaching began in Urswick and Mossbourne Schools in Hackney in Spring 2017, once instruments had been installed by Viscount Classical Organ, as a commitment to supporting organ tuition at the grassroots in the state-maintained sector. Four pupils were recruited to learn to play at that time, which has risen to seven in 2019.”

“The programme has had a positive impact upon the lives of all those involved. Within their schools, Pupils have raised their profile, performing in school assemblies, accompanying acts of worship, performing in recitals and contributing to worship in their own churches.”

“The support from the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers Charitable Trust has enabled the following:
• 1,000 pupils have newly heard the organ in school services and worship.
• 20 GCSE pupils have benefited from workshops.
• 25 keyboard players have explored the instrument as part of their enrichment as young pianists.
• 1 pupil has gained a school scholarship with research, encouragement and references from his Organ Tutor.
• 5 organ recitals and events have had contributions from #Inspiring Organists pupils.

The programme has helped the Royal College of Organists to move forward its thinking around outreach and partnership.”

VOCES8 FOUNDATION

Ann Wright, the Director of education at the VOCES8 Foundation, reports that:

“The Foundation works in partnership with the Hackney and Tower Hamlet Music Hubs helping to deliver the Hubs’ singing strategies. Through these partnerships we have led singing projects with over 80 schools across these boroughs focusing on schools that need support with singing, particularly those without a music teacher and where a high proportion of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium.

In 2020 the recently developed Islington Music Hub approached the Foundation to request support with their singing strategy.”

“Measures of Success are as follows:
• Children feeling confident about singing.
• Children working together as a team.
• Children demonstrating improved listening and focus skills.
• Teachers feeling more confident about leading singing.
• Teachers using songs to support learning across the curriculum.
• Schools using singing as a regular part of the school day.’

As ever, the VOCES8 Foundation is very grateful for the support of the Plaisterers. We would not have been able to reach so many children and teachers with out it. Thank you.”