New star of Dragons’ Den Piers Linney has become a Patron of the Band on the Wall Foundation which aims to transform the lives of young people through music and performance.
Band on the Wall is delighted to announce that the cloud computing entrepreneur Piers Linney is to become a Patron of its new charitable foundation that launches on 26th September 2013. The foundation, based at the award winning Manchester music venue Band on the Wall, has a fundraising target of £1M to create a diverse music engagement programme, which will extend and expand music-making with young people and communities throughout Manchester and beyond.
Piers Linney, who grew up in the North West and attended Manchester University, supports a range of charitable organisations. He was a benefactor on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire where he spent ten days in Wolverhampton working with a number of charities, some of which were based inside Brinsford Youth Offenders’ Institution. He is Co-CEO of Outsourcery – the UK’s leading Cloud computing & unified communications provider – which has its main office in central Manchester. Piers has been recognised as one of the top 100 most influential black Britons and, alongside Kelly Hoppen, is the most recent entrepreneur to join BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
The Band on the Wall Foundation, which has been set up with support from ethical financial advisors, Gaeia, will give a musical voice to children and young people who are disadvantaged by economic deprivation, low educational achievement, crime, poverty and isolation. By providing opportunities for them through music, it will make a positive difference to their lives.
The Band on the Wall Foundation launches at the Manchester venue on 26th September with a star-studded gala which will feature a personal appearance by music impresario David Gest and an exclusive performance by Rose Royce lead singer and soul queen Gwen Dickey (Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, Wishing On A Star, Car Wash).
Piers Linney said: “I am delighted to become a Patron of The Band on the Wall Foundation. It is an exciting new vehicle for social change through creativity and will help change the lives of young people for the better – that is something I am really passionate about. I grew up in and around Manchester, attended The University of Manchester and my business is headquartered in the centre of town so I am excited to be involved in such an exciting locally based initiative.”
Gavin Sharp, CEO of Band on the Wall: “We are delighted to welcome Piers as a Patron. His vision, drive and commitment will be an inspiration for the young people we aim to engage with the Foundation’s activities.”
There will further big name patrons announced very soon so watch this space!