BIMM Staff Climb 02 Arena for Music Charity
BIMM London staff members recently completed a gruelling ascent of the O2 Arena building on the Greenwich peninsula in aid of music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins.
In three sweat-inducing hours, the six-strong team successfully completed eighteen climbs of the huge rooftop gangway which spans the diameter of the 20,000 capacity venue. The team dug deep during the fund-raiser, equalling the height of the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa – and smashing their donations target of £600 in the process.
Staff members who took part in climb included Isabelle Sorrell, Jacqueline Braithwaite, Leo Nicholas, Nick Baker, Rowan King and Sabina Connolly-Read, whose roles span our Careers, Admissions and Student Support teams.
Nordoff Robbins is the largest independent music therapy charity in the UK, dedicated to changing the lives of vulnerable and isolated people. It supports thousands of people in its own centres and by working in partnership with a wide range of organisations including care homes, schools and hospitals.
When delivered by a trained practitioner, music therapy can be used to support people living with a wide range of needs. It can help a child with autism to communicate, reduce anxiety for those living with dementia or provide comfort and celebrate the life of someone facing terminal illness. Music therapy can be life-changing for so many people and BIMM are proud to have played a part in making sure their amazing work continues.
“Needless to say, it was even more gruelling than we had anticipated.” Said Head of Industry and Careers, Leo Nicholas, who took part in the climb.
“We’re stoked to have raised just shy of £700 for NR and sponsorship is still coming in. The money raised could help pay for a Nordoff Robbins music therapist at a school for young people with learning difficulties, or at a care home helping elderly people with dementia, for example. It’s a great feeling to have been able to raise money for such an important charity.”
Student Support Advisor Jacqueline Braithwaite had some wise words to contribute about the experience also.
“The music industry can be a competitive industry to work in – very much an uphill climb, working against the clock and often it can seem like you’re working against other people to achieve your goals. Something I think we want to encourage at BIMM is a sense of community and the idea that collectively you can achieve much more than going it alone, and I think yesterday’s climb was a perfect allegory for that! We truly worked as a team and, collectively, climbed 4,176m and walked just over 10km; and doing it for such a great cause made it all the more worthwhile, particularly in recognition of those whose struggle means that charities like Nordoff Robbins are needed.”
You can find out more about the good work being done by Nordoff Robbins via their official website, here.
