Co-op Foundation has launched a three-year partnership with a music therapy charity, which is being backed by a £225,000 investment.

The money will help the charity Nordoff and Robbins to deliver therapy programmes to young people at risk of suspension and exclusion.

The partnership is being piloted for a year at three Co-op Academy Trust schools in the North West of England and will be delivered with support from the Co-op Live music venue in Manchester.

The funding for the programmes has been helped through Co-op Live’s annual £1m donation to Co-op foundation.

“It’s tough out there for young people right now,” said Co-op Foundation chief executive Nick Crofts.

“They are calling out for more support with their mental health and we need to listen and act. We’re excited to bring together Nordoff and Robbins’ music therapy expertise with the Co-op Academies

“Trust’s progressive approach to supporting student wellbeing to deliver something with long-lasting community impact. If we can help these students to build their resilience and stay in school, then their life chances will vastly improve.”

During 2025 Nordoff and Robbines supported more than 15,000 young people through 48,000 music therapy sessions, which involved partnering with over 300 schools, hospitals and care homes across the UK.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Co-op Foundation, Co-op Academies Trust and Co-op Live for investing their time, funding and facilities into this unique programme,” said Nordoff and Robbins chief executive Maria Neophytou.

“Together, we know we can make a real difference to a particularly vulnerable group of young people in the North West.

“Our evidence based music therapy is proven to support a range of health and wellbeing outcomes.

"This programme aims to increase young people’s engagement with their education, ultimately reducing exclusion from school and improving their long-term outcomes.”

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