The O2 has announced The BRIT School, Nordoff Robbins and mental health research charity MQ as the London venue’s chosen charities for 2018.
Support will be provided to each charity including fundraising and onsite awareness and in addition, AEG staff will be offered volunteering opportunities to help the charities' work.
John Langford, The O2's VP and general manager, said: “Music is at the heart of our organisation so we are proud to be working with The BRIT School and Nordoff Robbins which are charities close to our hearts.”
“AEG recently supported World Mental Health Day to increase awareness of mental health amongst the business which led to an overwhelming vote from staff to have a mental health charity as our third chosen charity. We are delighted to have the opportunity to support MQ in 2018.”
Stuart Worden, principal at The BRIT School said: “We are immensely excited and honoured to be working with The O2 for 2018. As the UK’s leading free school dedicated to performing & creative arts, this support offers opportunities to raise funds for our BRIT Silver Campaign, supporting our plans to break down barriers to even more young people who want to develop their personal creativity and look to gain skills which will then help them as part of their future to further their careers.
“We are also looking forward to raising awareness of the charity amongst customers & clients of The O2, and opportunities for the public to experience and enjoy the true talents of The BRIT School’s amazing students. It’s going to be an exciting year!”
Nordoff Robbins CEO Julie Whelan said: “We are absolutely delighted to be a chosen charity of The O2 for 2018. At Nordoff Robbins we are committed to changing the lives of vulnerable and isolated people through the skilled use of music, and the support will be truly invaluable. Everything we raise through it will go towards supporting our life-changing work, helping us to reach even more people through music therapy.
"On behalf of everyone at Nordoff Robbins I would like to extend our warmest thanks to The O2, and we look forward to working closely with them in the year ahead."
John Valentine, MQ's senior partnerships manager, added: “We are thrilled to be one of The O2’s supported charities for 2018. MQ believes that scientific research has the potential to fundamentally transform mental health for everyone living with a condition. We are delighted and truly grateful that The O2 will be behind us in making this a reality. Their support will help us grow our understanding of mental illness, so we can effect genuine change for the one in four of us directly affected each year.”
