Arts Council England’s National Lottery funded 'Catalyst' programme

Mark Wilkinson • January 20, 2018

This is a subtitle for your new post

Foden’s Band are pleased to announce that they have been successful in obtaining funding through Arts Council England’s National Lottery funded 'Catalyst' programme. The band have been awarded £17,819 towards a total project cost of £20,875.


The project is to enhance Strategic Organisational Development within the organisation. The project will make the organisation more stable and resilient with opportunities for Foden’s Band to engage in a Peer Development/Peer Mentoring Programme and offer these opportunities as part of its on-going organisational development. The project will see the band develop a network of local and regional partnerships as well as proactively seeking collaborative working links. Foden’s will also undertake a governance review and develop a Funding Strategic Plan 2018-2023.


The funding bid was led by Carole Hirst who also secured Foden’s Band funding through Arts Council England’s National Lottery funded 'Grants for the Arts programme' in May 2016 and Heritage Lottery Funding through the “Our Heritage” Programme in December 2016. Carole will project manage the Catalyst Funding Bid providing support and mentoring to Mark Wilkinson, Foden’s Band Manager on strategic organisational development.


The project will commence on 1st March 2018 and will run until 30 Nov 2019. Foden's are the only organisation connected to the brass band movement to be awarded this funding.


The Arts Council England Catalyst Small Grants Programme is a fund where grants from £10,000 to £30,000 could be applied for to build fundraising capacity and encourage more private giving to arts and culture resulting in improved financial resilience support. 117 grants have been awarded giving £2.8 million nationally to medium sized organisations.


Jane Beardsworth, Director North, Arts Council England said, “I’m delighted that Foden’s Band has been successful in its application to our Catalyst programme. We have supported a wide range of different types of organisations through Catalyst and this award will help Foden’s secure its future.”



Speaking about the Funding award Mark Wilkinson commented ‘Foden’s would like to thank Carole Hirst for helping collate and submit this successful application on the back of two previous funding awards. I am looking forward to working with the band committee and Carole Hirst on this high profile project developing various strategies. The funding will also be used to look into ways to increase our fundraising and sponsorship capabilities.’

New Player Announcements

By Mark Wilkinson • June 12, 2026
Following Grace Jeffers’ exciting move to Solo Horn, Foden's are delighted to announce the appointment of Eloisa Donovan on 1st Horn. Eloisa brings a wealth of experience to the band, having previously played with Granite City Band before moving to the RNCM to study with Owen Farr. Following a successful spell with Wingates, she moved to Carlton Main Frickley, progressing from 2nd Horn to Solo Horn. She represented Frickley at this year's Yorkshire Area and the French Open Championships — which Frickley won! Eloisa is continuing her musical journey by starting her Masters degree at the RNCM this September Welcoming Rimika Umetsu on Percussion Joining the Foden's percussion section all the way from Hokkaido, Japan is the amazing Rimika Umetsu. Rimika started playing percussion in elementary school before formally studying percussion at University. Following her graduation, Rimika performed with a number of Professional Orchestras prior to moving to Manchester in April. All at Foden's offer a warm welcome to Eloisa and Rimika!

Solo Horn Announcement

By Mark Wilkinson • June 11, 2026
Foden's are delighted to announce that Grace Jeffers has become the band's new Solo Horn player Grace originally joined Foden’s on 1st Horn in 2019 from the Pemberton Band. She spent 13 incredible years with the Pemberton organisation, holding the Solo Horn position across all three of its bands. Her time there included winning the 1st section Area and 1st section Nationals. During this time, Grace was also appointed as Solo Horn with 'The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.' Since joining Foden’s, she has covered the Solo Horn position on numerous occasions across concerts, CD recordings, the North West Area Contest as well as being a featured soloist. It has already been a fantastic year for Grace, She was delighted to perform as Solo Horn in the New Zealand Brass Band National Championships and recently became an official K&G Mouthpiece artist. Away from banding, Grace works as a counsellor and psychotherapist, supporting both adults and young people.

Foden's are crowned the 2026 Tameside Whit Friday Champions

By Mark Wilkinson • June 2, 2026
From the first Whit Friday Marches in 1884, the event has grown in popularity. On Friday 29th May over 160 brass bands participated in twenty different contests at venues scattered around the areas of Tameside and Saddleworth. At each venue, bands march to a central location where they perform a contest march which is judged by an adjudicator. Foden's played the popular march 'The President' conducted by Michael Fowles. After this the band members get back on their coach, travel to the next village where they repeat the same procedure again! The contests are open to all-comers, so the local youth bands get to match their skills against the UK's top bands. For the players, the dash from contest to contest makes for an exhilarating (though exhausting) evening. Thousands of spectators travel to Saddleworth and Tameside to watch was it commonly called 'the greatest free show in the world'. Each contest offers prizes for the best band, best youth band, best soloists with each venue attracting between 50 - 70 bands. Each contest is organised by local volunteers with the running costs and prize money being raised by local donations, sponsorship and fund-raising events. At the end of the night (each contest has its own finish time which is usually around 11pm) the adjudicator announces the results. To qualify for the overall prize i.e. the Champion of Tameside or Saddleworth, bands must compete at a minimum of 6 venues and the band that has the best results takes the overall prize. This year Foden's competed at all 11 venues in Tameside starting at 4pm. Following the announcement of the results Foden's were crowned the 'Tameside Whit Friday Champions' for the 23rd time in 24 years. In Tameside Foden's were placed 1st at 6 venues as well as receiving two second places and a third

Tickets now on sale - Stafford 4th July

By Mark Wilkinson • May 26, 2026
Tickets are now on sale for the band's return visit to the beautiful St Mary's Church in Stafford - Last years event was sold out so please book early to avoid disappointment! St Mary’s Church, Stafford Saturday 4th July 7:00pm Tickets available here: https://www.ticketsource.com/st-marys-festival/fodens-band/e-emrkgg

Training Day at Bromsgrove School

By Mark Wilkinson • May 26, 2026
Last weekend Michael Fowles and the Foden's team lead a training day at Bromsgrove School organised by the Wychavon Festival of Brass The day consisted of full and sectional rehearsals, a Question and Answers session followed by a short concert for parents. Music performed included - The March ‘Home Again’ ‘Little Prayer’ and ‘The Journal of Phileas Fogg’ Thank you to everyone who attended!!

Concert Announcement - Sandbach 28th June

By Mark Willkinson • May 26, 2026
Foden's are looking forward to welcoming the fantastic Oslofjord Band (from Norway) this June, as they join the band on stage alongside the talented Foden's Youth Band! Each band will perform a short concert before coming together for a number of exciting joint items! Sandbach School, Crewe Rd, Sandbach 28th June 2:00pm Pay on the door (Free admission to under 18’s) This promises to be a wonderful afternoon of brass music and friendship!

Tickets on sale - Wolverhampton 20th June

By Mark Wilkinson • May 22, 2026
Looking forward to travelling to Wolverhampton to appear at - Venue: St Regis Academy, Wolverhampton Date: 20th June Start Time: 7:00pm Tickets : via attached flyer We are extremely grateful to the 'Richardson Brothers Foundation' for kindly sponsoring the concert

Party in the Park!!

By Mark Wilkinson • May 18, 2026
Sandbach Council are delighted to announce the return of 'Party in the Park' which once again features Foden's The event takes place on the 13 th June - Sandbach Park between 3pm - 8pm (with gates opening at 2pm) Further info - www.sandbach.gov.uk/party-in-the-park/ Event link: https://fb.me/e/599lQOVOZ How to get your tickets (by Monday 8th June) - Tickets are available from the Town Hall office (card payments only), or through the Council website: www.sandbach.gov.uk/event-tickets/ £12.50 adults (16+) £5 children (2-16) Family ticket £30 (2 adults & 2 children) Under 2’s go free (Please note that tickets will not be sold on the gate and must be bought in advance)

Not one, but two cd's!

By Mark Wilkinson • May 13, 2026
The band had an productive couple of days in the recording studio last weekend recording not one, but TWO CDs for release later this year! The recording was undertaken by World of Brass and included a Tuba Concerto with the phenomenal Ross Knight. Thanks to Paul Hindmarsh for coordinating both projects which also sees Foden's return to the studio shortly to complete the project

Adams Percussion

By Mark Wilkinson • May 11, 2026
Foden's have been busy in the recording studio recently, which gave them the opportunity to use some of their fantastic equipment from Adams Percussion