Music Relief Foundation
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A place where music becomes relief.

Young violinists performing on stage with their tutor at a Music Relief Foundation concert

Magdalene's story

How Music Relief Foundation started

We take immense pride in our rich history, rooted in the journey of our founder and CEO, Magdalene Usikaro. After migrating to the UK in 1992, aged 11, from Nigeria, Magdalene became a teenage mother in 1998 and faced shame, stigmatisation, and exclusion from her church and family.

She transformed her pain into purpose with the assistance of her university, UEL, by founding MRF in 2011, initially aimed at supporting teenage mothers. Since then, the charity has evolved to inspire youth leadership, address youth issues and build strong communities through our diverse services.

Ribbon cutting at the opening of a Music Relief Foundation community space

Mission & vision

Mission

To remove the barriers — cost, isolation and lost opportunity — that keep young people from music, and to use music as a route into learning, wellbeing and community life.

Vision

A community where every young person, whatever their circumstances, has a safe place to make music and somewhere to go next.

How the hub works

  1. 1

    Enter through accessible music activity

  2. 2

    Build trust through participation

  3. 3

    Sustain engagement

  4. 4

    Progress into learning, wellbeing, leadership or community roles

The Community Music School

The Community Music School

Low-cost, high-quality and open to the public. Term-based instrumental lessons and ABRSM preparation, weekly.

Enrol your childChildren playing acoustic guitars together at a Community Music School performance
A young guitarist performing on stage beside an amplifier

Our programmes

  • Community Music School
  • Choirs and Bands, including Thrive Choir
  • Performance & Celebration Events — bi-annual showcase soirées
  • Mentoring and Wellbeing Support
  • Sound Start

Our team

IMAGE OUTSTANDING (MRF Family Picnic shoot)Headshot

Magdalene Usikaro

CEO & Founder

IMAGE OUTSTANDING (MRF Family Picnic shoot)Headshot

Brylle Gutierrez

Executive Assistant to the CEO

IMAGE OUTSTANDING (MRF Family Picnic shoot)Headshot

Hedieh Wojgani

Operations, Service Delivery, Partnerships & Fundraising

IMAGE OUTSTANDING (MRF Family Picnic shoot)Headshot

Moatter Gulfam

Administration & Programmes

IMAGE OUTSTANDING (MRF Family Picnic shoot)Headshot

Marina Elderton (left)

Marketing

Our timeline

From one story to a music school

Scroll sideways through the moments that shaped Music Relief Foundation.

2011
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2011

MRF is founded

  • Magdalene Usikaro founds Music Relief Foundation with the assistance of her university, UEL, initially aimed at supporting teenage mothers.
2011–2013
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2011–2013

Speaking in schools

  • Magdalene is invited to speak at several secondary schools in the Islington borough, sharing her journey and engaging with young people — a platform to inspire and connect with those facing similar challenges.
2014
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2014

Commissioned by AFRUCA

  • MRF is commissioned to deliver a music project for AFRUCA, working with young girls trafficked from Africa, reinforcing our mission of using music as a tool for healing, empowerment and transformation.
2015–2016
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2015–2016

“Don’t Judge Me”

  • Our focus expands to addressing knife crime, inspired by the funded drama project “Don’t Judge Me”, which highlighted the complex relationship between young people and the police, and the impact of perception and prejudice.
2017
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2017

More Than Able launches in Parliament

  • In November 2017, we launch the More Than Able knife crime initiative in Parliament, leading to the More Than Able Leadership Academy — an intervention and prevention programme in secondary schools, with a glowing testimonial from Nick Soar, Executive Principal, Harris Academy St. John’s Wood and Harris Tottenham.
2018
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2018

Youth Ambassadors & Enriching Lives

  • The Youth Ambassador Program encourages young people to express themselves through original songwriting. Their music advocating against knife crime gains national and international recognition: interviews with The Guardian, a feature on Danish 6 PM News, a performance at Boxpark Croydon with Croydon Young Composers, and multiple newspaper features and performances.
  • Launch of the Enriching Lives holiday scheme — a safe space during the holidays with activities young people may not otherwise get to enjoy, such as horse riding, BMX, sailing and mountain biking.
2019
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2019

Focus on wellbeing

  • The need to look at the impact of music on individual mental well-being becomes more and more apparent.
2020
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2020

Going virtual

  • With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MRF shifts online, providing virtual music lessons to a diverse group of young people eager to learn an instrument. Professional musicians volunteer their time, resulting in MRF’s virtual 360 music concert.
2021
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2021

The Music School opens

  • In November 2021, MRF officially launches its Music School, with its largest intake coming from the homeschool community. It becomes the core service of MRF, offering affordable and accessible music lessons to children, young people and adults, with a choir further expanding the offer.
2022–present
CONTENT OUTSTANDINGPhoto — 2022–present

A community hub

  • Beyond music education, the school has fostered a vibrant community hub — a home away from home — where students learn instruments, socialise and find respite from daily life.
  • Pastoral support and leadership programmes continue, including Amplify Her Voice, a girls’ forum safe space empowering young women, and leadership initiatives that nurture confidence and skills.

Our tutors and youth workers

Our delivery team is made up of freelance tutors, grouped by instrument, and youth workers.

CONTENT OUTSTANDINGTutor and youth worker names + headshots — withheld pending consentFreelancer consent to be named and photographed not yet obtained

Governance

Board of Trustees

  • Chair

    Oluwasijibomi Alonge

  • Trustee

    Adrian Thompson

  • Trustee

    Valeria Ehrenheim

  • Trustee

    Paul Miller

  • Trustee

    Annemari De Silva

Our ImpactOur Patrons