Music for Morocco

Students at a York secondary school are to host a music festival this week to raise money for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Morocco.

The ATLAS festival will take place at Vale of York Academy in Clifton, York on Wednesday 27 September from 4.00-7.00pm. Festival-goers can listen to a selection of live bands and solo artists from the academy and the local community, whilst enjoying a barbecue, cake stalls, face-painting, a raffle, stalls and music workshops. Some of York’s local community groups including Rock Church, Accessible Arts and Door 84 are also supporting the event by providing workshops and activities.

The festival is being held to raise money for students currently in Years 9 and 10 who have signed up to take part in the Moroccan expedition in 2019. Students will have the chance to learn about the Moroccan culture and climb Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains, as well as spending a week in a Moroccan school where they will help to build key infrastructures. The students will also teach English to some of the children and their parents. At the end of the trip, the students will have chance to explore Marrakech and hopefully even ride on a camel!

Festival organiser Mr Mark Rampling, PE and Science Teacher at Vale of York Academy said “The students have worked really hard to pull this event together and it promises to be a great evening. We want our young people to have the opportunity to travel, to sample a different culture and most importantly get involved with a project where they can help others whilst gaining some essential life skills.

“Now, their challenge is to raise enough money to enable the trip to go ahead. The ATLAS festival is the first of many fundraisers the students will organise and we’d like to encourage as many people to come along as possible – everyone is welcome, students, parents, extended families, members of the local community – the more the merrier. The event will take place inside and out, so prepare for the weather!”

Access to the festival will be via either the Water Lane or Rawcliffe Drive entrances and parking is available on site via the academy’s main entrance. There is a suggested entrance fee of £1 per person, payable on the evening.

Mrs Dowds, Principal adds “It is a real pleasure to support the students at Vale of York in what is, I hope, to be the first of many exciting opportunities for our students in the years to come. Working together as a community to raise aspirations and engage with the wider world is key to developing responsible citizens of the future.”

Further information can be found on the Vale of York Academy website at www.valeofyorkacademy.org or Mr Rampling can be contacted by email: m.rampling@valeofyorkacademy.org

Vale of York Academy is one of six schools within the Hope Sentamu Learning Trust.

Music for Morocco

Join our Talent Pool

Follow us