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Templesprings Charity
Building confidence through music
Templesprings is a registered Charity based in Grays, Essex. Since 2008, Templesprings has helped produce young musicians locally and nationally. Our youth led music programs are lively, dynamic, and interactive. They include group classes in schools, faith organisations, and short intensive classes for individuals.
Our focus is on inspiring and getting the young person to have fun whilst learning to play and participate in music making. Music and creative arts is our powerful tool of engagement for connecting with young people, and promoting their participation in creative, social, and volunteering opportunities. This helps build their skills, improves confidence and resilience for the future.
Templesprings is an Arts Awards Centre offering Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, and Gold level Certificates. We also partner with Arts Council England, Trinity College, and Rock School offering Graded exams.
Once they have participated in music and the arts, many of the young people remain engaged with our charity long term through our C3 Youth Program in roles such as peer mentors, volunteer session tutors, summer camp and holiday club youth leaders. As such, our charity now has more than 30 regular volunteers, most of whom are aged between 13 and 19 years of age. For more information click our C3 Youth Programme Page
Arts Award inspires young people to develop their creativity and leadership skills in a way that is engaging, accessible, and meaningful. Through the programme, participants achieve a nationally recognised qualification that supports progression into further education and employment. Alongside gaining knowledge and understanding of different art forms, young people also build confidence in leadership, creativity, and communication.
As a flexible and personalised learning framework, Arts Award recognises each student’s individual journey and development in the arts. It also offers valuable continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for staff, while helping schools build strong, meaningful connections with local arts organisations.
As an Arts Award centre, Templesprings regularly delivers events and activities that provide children and young people with rich opportunities to engage with the arts and work towards their accreditation.
Achievements and Partnerships
Essex Community Foundation and Royal Opera House Bridge
In partnership with Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and Royal Opera House Bridge, we received a grant which enabled our team to deliver ‘Mini Mixers’ music sessions for children up to five years in Grays.
Mini Mixers was created to support early childhood development by encouraging musical enjoyment, creativity, and key skills such as motor coordination, cognitive growth, and active listening, helping children build a lifelong connection with the arts and creative expression.
The project was shaped through consultation with local early years practitioners in 2021/22, which highlighted a common lack of confidence and knowledge in delivering engaging and effective music activities for young children. A pilot study then supported the delivery and evaluation of three Mini Mixers sessions led by ten early-career Early Years professionals, alongside reflective practice sessions to explore challenges and gather feedback on children’s learning and engagement.
This work informed the development of five new downloadable Mini Mixers lesson plans, tailored to specific age groups (including babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers). In addition, we created a range of best practice resources, including an expanded list of recommended instruments; curated song suggestions for singing, clapping, chanting, structured movement, and percussion; as well as ideas for sensory-based games.
Thurrock Mind
Working in partnership with Thurrock Mind’s commitment to changing lives through personalised care – The Thurrock Story – Templesprings has continued to collaborate with the Youth Facilitator to create positive pathways, supporting young people as they transition from mental health services back into the community.
Many of these young people had limited or no access to creative opportunities prior to their involvement. Through this partnership, Templesprings delivered 240 music sessions to 20 young people, covering instruments such as drums, keyboard, and guitar. In addition, participants were supported through work experience placements and engagement in holiday club activities.
As a result, young people reported meaningful outcomes, including feeling less isolated, developing stronger relationships, and gaining practical ways to use music and the arts as positive coping strategies.
Templesprings was included in the NHS video campaign about YOUNG MINDS for the support we provided to the young people
Active Essex Holiday Food Program
Through our partnership with Active Essex, supported by the government’s DfE Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, we delivered free, face-to-face holiday clubs for children and young people eligible for benefits-based free school meals, as well as those from low-income working families who would benefit from additional support.
This collaboration enabled more than 150 children and young people—including primary, secondary, and those with special educational needs—to take part across three holiday clubs. Alongside music activities, participants also received nutritious meals and enjoyed a range of sports, made possible through matched funding from the Department for Education.
The programme proved highly successful, with children leaving feeling more confident, active, and happy. We observed significant growth in confidence across all areas, from music and arts and crafts to sports and social interaction. Many children who were initially quiet and reserved became more engaged, formed friendships, and felt comfortable expressing their opinions and interests within a safe and supportive environment.
The transformation in energy and attitude was striking, children often began the day shy and hesitant but left with enthusiasm, smiles, and excitement to return. Several participants particularly excelled in music, with some parents expressing interest in enrolling their children in ongoing music lessons.
Comic Relief Community Fund (CRCF)
We received a £10,000 grant from the Comic Relief Community Fund to strengthen our capacity and deliver our Audio Ambition programme. This initiative supported 40 children—primarily aged 8–12—from vulnerable families who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
Throughout the programme, participants benefited from two key strands:
Term-time music scholarships
Children attended weekly coaching sessions in drums, keyboard, or guitar at the Templesprings centre, with remote learning options available where needed. Depending on age and ability, sessions were delivered one-to-one or in small groups. Our distinctive “learn by ear” approach enabled children to quickly build a basic repertoire, boosting both confidence and motivation.
To support continued development, children also had access to digital learning resources, encouraging independent practice at home while helping to strengthen literacy and comprehension skills.
School holiday activities
During school holidays, children took part in a wide range of activities designed to build confidence and interpersonal skills. These included live music performance opportunities, leadership and volunteering experiences, and pathways to accreditation such as Arts Awards.
Our Music Camp programmes offered a mix of music and performing arts, alongside arts and crafts, sports, and other engaging activities. Through ongoing partnerships with local and regional holiday food programmes, children were also provided with nutritious meals.
In addition, participants benefited from peer mentoring through our ‘C3’ young volunteers, who supported them in social action initiatives. These have included organising live concerts, running befriending programmes for care home residents, and taking part in community activities such as supermarket bag packing
People’s Postcode Lottery & The #YoungandBlack Awards by UK Youth - Audio Ambition Community Music Studio Grant
Grants from Postcode Lottery and The #YoungandBlack Awards allowed us to purchase some equipment for our new digital community studio in which we offered training and work experience in music/video production, to young people looking to develop careers in the creative industries.
The Audio Ambition Community Music Studio provides a welcoming and accessible space where young people and community members can explore their creativity through music. Equipped with a range of instruments and recording technology, the studio is used to deliver engaging, hands-on sessions that include instrumental learning, songwriting, music production, and collaborative projects.
Through these sessions, participants are supported to build confidence, develop new skills, and express themselves creatively in a safe and inclusive environment. The studio also acts as a hub for community engagement, bringing people together, nurturing talent, and creating pathways into further learning, performance, and creative opportunities.
The community studio allowed us to offer competitively priced recording packages (e.g. Pop Star/Rock star) experiences to local residents – helping address lack of cultural activities the Grays area (particularly since covid) and music recording services.
Studio Recording Projects includes the Christmas Album and Harmonies For Hope Album
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020 Nomination
We were honoured to be nominated for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020, the highest accolade for local volunteer groups in the UK. While Templesprings Music Centre was not selected to receive the award that year, the nomination itself was a tremendous recognition of the dedication and impact of our volunteers and staff. The Independent Assessment Committee commended the work we do for the community, highlighting the enormous benefit it brings locally. This nomination reflects the commitment and hard work of everyone involved, and we are incredibly proud of the positive difference our team continues to make.
Work Placements
Our partnership with USP College and local secondary schools helps to provide meaningful work experience placements for students. In total, more than 50 students studying Music, Business Studies, Marketing, and Technology completed over 1500 hours of hands-on experience.
These placements offered valuable insight into the world of work, helping students develop key skills and confidence in a professional environment.
Students shared the impact of their experience:
“I’ve learned from new experiences that I wouldn’t get in school or in my normal day-to-day life. I’ve also met lots of kind people at Templesprings. Volunteering has helped me get used to a work environment at a young age, which will help prepare me for the future.”
“Templesprings has given me the opportunity to learn more about the world of work through volunteering. I’ve developed communication and teamwork skills and built great relationships along the way. I really appreciate this opportunity, as it’s helped me grow in confidence while doing things I’m interested in.”
Social Action Project:
Each year, a dedicated community of volunteers, young people, trustees, and Templesprings staff—comes together to raise funds in support of local causes. These efforts enable us to purchase essential items and gifts for our annual Christmas Hamper Campaign.
The initiative is designed to support families facing financial hardship, residents in homeless hostels, and older people in care settings. We are also grateful to Giving World for their generous donation of hamper items.
The team prepare and distribute around 250 hampers to a range of local organisations, including Colourful Beginnings, a Thurrock-based homeless shelter, a local single mothers’ support charity, and Active Essex’s free school meal holiday programme.
In addition, hampers were provided to families attending our Templesprings holiday clubs delivered throughout the year as part of the HAF programme. Through this campaign, we were able to offer practical support to local charities and their beneficiaries, providing essential items and small, thoughtful gifts tailored to meet the needs of each group.
One partner organisation shared:
“Thank you for your generous gift to our residents. We are thrilled to have your support. It was a lovely Christmas surprise for our residents, who all appreciated receiving such generous gifts. You truly make a difference for us, and we are extremely grateful.”
Sanctuary Supported Living Manager
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