Wesleyan shows 'gratitude ' to city schools with £30k prize pot

Schools in Birmingham have the chance to win a share of £30,000 as Gratitude, an art installation celebrating key workers, sweeps into the city centre.

Gratitude sees 51 uniquely painted sculptures placed around Birmingham in tribute of those who have served throughout the pandemic.

To celebrate the exhibition 's arrival, the Wesleyan Foundation - the charitable arm of Wesleyan, the specialist financial services mutual for teachers, doctors and dentists - is offering Birmingham schools the chance to win funding to support community and school projects.

Individuals can enter the competition and nominate their chosen school by scanning a QR code located on the Wesleyan-sponsored Gratitude sculptures in Chamberlain Square.

Applications are welcome for a wide variety of causes - from supplying new equipment to creating a community garden, developing a tutoring programme or simply showing appreciation to teachers and school staff themselves.

Mario Mazzocchi, chief executive at the Wesleyan Group said: “The Gratitude exhibition will be a poignant moment of reflection for all of the sacrifices our key workers have made in the past 18 months, and this competition is another way for us to show our thanks to teaching staff and support schools with the work they do - in and out of the classroom. ”

Charlie Langhorne, managing director and Co-founder at Wild in Art, said: “We love bringing art into public spaces and watching the joy it brings.

“We hope Gratitude will show all key workers just how much their huge efforts over the last 18 months have been appreciated.

“Expanding that with this competition for schools makes it even more special and we 're excited to see pupils and teachers run the projects they 're passionate about. ”

The closing date for entries is 10 October 2021. Winning schools, to be selected by the Wesleyan Foundation 's Grants Panel, will be notified by 1 November.

Following a UK tour, the Gratitude sculptures will be auctioned off, with the proceeds donated to NHS Charities Together, who support a variety of NHS services, including hospitals and mental health care providers.

For more information about the competition, click here.

Pictured: Naheem Ahmed (Wesleyan inclusion and diversity manager) and Jessica Perrin, the artist