Ed Sheeran is happy to Divide his fortune by giving away nearly £1million to help kids learn music.
His incredible generosity is revealed in new accounts of Sheeran’s charity foundation. Dad-of-two Ed, 31, has ploughed in almost £500,000 over the past five years.
The Framlington Foundation Trust, named after the Suffolk town where he grew up, has another near-£500k earmarked for more budding young musicians.
A source said: “Ed has never forgotten his struggle to reach the top and the impact music made on his life. It is fantastic he’s helping in this way.”
Youngsters can apply to the charity –which trades under the name Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation, or ESSMF, – for funding for instruments, rehearsal space and gigs.
Ed, who is worth an estimated £180m, said: “The reason I’m doing it in Suffolk is [because] it’s the area I grew up, I still live here and I learnt how to play music here and I feel like I’ve had a lot of support from the area and I feel like I wanna give some support back.”
His cash also paid for equipment for the music department at the Thomas Mills School in Framlingham, where he began writing songs and met now-wife Cherry Seaborn, 30, mum of Lyra Antarctica, two, and Jupiter, six months.
In 2021 the secondary school received £30,000 from the Foundation.
Its director of music Richard Hanley said: “At a time when music and the arts are under pressure and under threat in schools, it is so comforting to know students at this school have a source of support that enables access and equality of opportunity to all.
“It sends a clear message that music and the arts are an essential element of broad and balanced education as well as being an essential part of the human experience.”
St Michael’s in Framlingham also received £17,000 as part of an educational tie-up with after-school singing and dancing club for kids aged six and above.
Former busker Ed has made no secret of his desire to use his cash to help others. He has said: “It’s like ‘earn a penny, spend a penny’ with me. As soon as it comes in, it goes out. I don’t have much value on it. […] I have more value on my friends and family being OK.”
