Our Values
Founded on the values of excellence, integrity and equity, MORABE works to ensure that children and communities in rural Suffolk feel proud of where they come from and confident in where they can go.
Everything we do is shaped by this ambition; from a child’s first Mini Music session to the final bow on stage at Snape Maltings.
By breaking down financial, geographic and social barriers, we work to ensure that high-quality music opportunities become a normal and lasting part of rural life.
Our vision is embedded through three core drivers of change:
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Wellbeing and Connection: We enable creativity to become part of everyday life, supporting wellbeing, reducing isolation and strengthening community belonging.
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Excellence and Opportunity: We empower potential through specialist teaching, clear progression pathways and continued support, so ambition and cultural leadership are shaped by ability and opportunity, not postcode.
Our Impact
Since 2019, MORABE has grown from six donated violins into a sustained, community-rooted programme working with around 400 children and families each week across three partner schools and their surrounding villages.
Our work is built around two connected pathways, our Schools Pathway and our Community Pathway, which operate together to turn rural primary schools into vibrant cultural hub and community anchors.
Within schools, children receive sustained music education and enrichment through musicianship, choir, instrumental learning and ensemble opportunities. Alongside this, community programmes create opportunities for families and local residents to take part in music together.
Working in partnership with schools, families, creative organisations and local authorities ensures our programmes respond to the real needs of rural communities, including those highlighted in Suffolk Community Foundation’s Hidden Needs Report, such as isolation, wellbeing and fair access to culture.
Together, these programmes help ensure that music becomes a shared cultural resource for children, families and communities across rural Suffolk.
2024-2025 Impact Highlights
• Approx. 400 children, families and community members engaged annually
• Approx. 1,000 participatory engagements through Schools & Community Pathway
• 100% access to free instruments and ensemble participation
• 85% of pupils in individual lessons supported with bursaries or scholarships
• Nine distinctions and three merits achieved in ABRSM exams
• MORABE pupils selected to lead and join the the County String Ensemble
• Bronze Award People’s Choice Under £100k at the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2025
• Parents engaged as volunteers, paid facilitators and community leaders, strengthening local capacity and connection
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Equity and Representation: We engage children, families and communities from the ground up, opening doors, building confidence and ensuring everyone feels represented.
“The programme that MORABE has built is, put simply, inspirational… strengthening community cohesion from toddler to later life.”
“I like it when people ask me to play my viola for then, it makes me feel like I matter.”
“I feel very privileged to have access to such a dedicated learning programme in a state school.”
“MORABE has helped me cope better with big stressful tasks and I feel like I can use the things I have learnt in violin, when taking on challenges and failures in high school.”
