Hello @williamevans9426. Thanks for your question. We do (and have over the years) work with a varied range of businesses and funders who provide grants to support our work, but we're always looking for more connections. As a charity we need to fundraise over half a million pounds every year to deliver our Aloud choirs for free to our participants. We are definitely always interested in partnerships and sponsorship opportunities with businesses, so if there are any out there who are interested in working together then please get in touch. :)

@@OnlyBoysAloud I presumed you'd explored this obvious (!) route. Unfortunately, I am temporarily unable to offer any personal support as I am currently 'unwaged' but I wish you all the very best, having grown up in the Ogmore Valley myself and having derived much pleasure from singing in choirs over the years.

Hi @cakimiric5034. Thanks for your comment, I hope this helps to explain. Every year, the Aloud Charity raises over half a million pounds to provide free opportunities for young people of secondary school age across Wales. This money pays our talented, professional choir leaders, our small team of committed staff and covers our costs - such as hire fees for venues, expenses to pay for concerts and performance opportunities, and the infrastructure we need for our work such as music tracks and equipment. It keeps our Only Boys Aloud choirs free, ensuring no financial burden is placed on already struggling families who want their children to participate. However, this year, we have struggled to raise the entirety of the money we need to operate for various reasons, including the challenging climate we all find ourselves in and cuts to arts investment across the board which are affecting everyone. For the first time ever, we are asking our supporters, participants and the public to help us raise the £150,000 we need to ensure we can keep going while we work closely with our board and funders on what the future looks like. The money will pay our core staff who manage all elements of our provision, our freelance choir leaders and venues for weekly Only Boys Aloud rehearsals, the equipment and musical arrangements needed, and costs associated with us putting on or participating in events. In simple terms, it will ensure we exist while we get our long-term funding strategy in place. We are confident we can and will do this through our ongoing work with trusts and foundations, the Arts Council of Wales and private donations, however at this moment in time, we do not have the cash in place to keep going and need your support as a result. Thank you!

@@OnlyBoysAloud So a statement like this needs to be posted officially on your website, and not here in the comment section where it'll be lost to the wider public. Wish you all the best in raising the money! Good luck!

Hello @pfoetel-xd1zg. Thanks for your question. Tim is, and always will be, our Founder. We are so grateful for everything he did when he formed Only Boys Aloud in 2010. Tim works as the Music Director at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, who we have a great working relationship with. In fact, our Cardiff OBA choir rehearse there every week :) Tim is a supporter of our work and is incredibly passionate about supporting young people through singing. He's doing well and we'll always be grateful for his support.

@@OnlyBoysAloud Thanks for your honest reply. Obviously, Tim can be proud of what he achieved in 2010 and the career ladder he has climbed since then which then leads me to my next question: as "HIS BABY" is in a difficult situation, can't he pull a few strings upstairs and ask the local politicians, businesses etc. for helping to keep your world famous choir promoting Wales for a longer period of time ? I mean, you are THE perfect advertisement for Wales and the Welsh music choirs as a whole.