The Snowball Effect of Corporate Compassion - the TEAM LEWIS Partnership That Changed Everything

Wednesday November 3rd, 2021. Dinner at an apartment in Millbank, Westminster.

In my best suit and shiny new shoes, I perch on the edge of a plush sofa facing the CEO of global marketing agency, TEAM LEWIS. With kindness in his eyes, Chris Lewis introduces me to his colleagues, “We’re here to help. Nothing can bring Sir David back, but we can at least try to ensure hope overcomes evil, a legacy he would be proud of”.

They were deeply welcome words.

Sir David Amess was brutally murdered less than two weeks before. On the same day I returned to work after isolating with COVID, I found myself explaining to a bank of TV cameras within sight of the crime scene that we’d lost Southend’s greatest champion. Sir David was also The Music Man Project’s Charity President and a dear friend. Despite the horrific tragedy, I sought to describe the true nature of the man we all knew and loved. I told the BBC, Sky News, LBC and even CNN that The Music Man Project was Sir David’s favourite charity.

In the apartment, Chris’ confident message was compelling, but I had received offers of help before. Invariably there was a hidden agenda - overstated and unrealistic overtures which inevitably meant more work for me before the promises fizzled out into nothing. I wished they’d been honest - they needed to tick a box and make themselves look good.

But this meeting felt different. Chris and the co-author of his most recent book had already donated a large sum of money to my charity in Sir David’s memory. They were serious. As I moved from the sofa to the dinner table, I was greeted by his co-author, Dame Penny Mordaunt.

Penny already had multiple connections with The Music Man Project. The daughter of a Special School teacher and former Minister for Disabled People, she had created the Government’s Disability and Access Ambassador programme which I joined on Sir David’s recommendation earlier in the year. I had only met Penny once before, when my students performed at a Royal Mencap Christmas concert she attended several years ago. Unknown to me, Penny had followed our progress via Sir David and she watched The Music Man Project’s ground-breaking Royal Albert Hall debut in 2019. On the evening of his murder, Penny posted a clip of Sir David’s closing speech at the Hall which was shared widely on social media and then shown on the BBC’s Newsnight programme. It was Penny who approached Chris about helping The Music Man Project.

As the starter emerged from the kitchen, we began talking about the future. From the moment we sat down for dinner to this day, Penny and Chris have shown me nothing but immense kindness, compassion and a deep determination to help me fulfil my ambitions. I’m always inspired by their knowledge, competence and leadership qualities.

There were other guests at the dinner table - another politician, a civil servant, a scientist and a business leader. Unsurprisingly, the meal was punctuated by small but fascinating insights into current affairs. It was the day that Tory MP Owen Paterson had avoided suspension from the House of Commons, following an intervention by Andrea Leadsom which was backed by PM Boris Johnson. The other hot topic was COVID and the lockdown restrictions. I listened and nodded politely, remembering the old adage to “not talk politics”. My attention instead fixed firmly on the words of Penny and Chris. How could they help me ensure Sir David’s legacy?

I gradually grasped the nature of their offer as each course of the delicious meal was presented. TEAM LEWIS is a global marketing company with tremendous international reach, a hugely successful commercial enterprise, but near the start of its venture into the charity sector. I was particularly struck by Chris’ vision of ‘purpose, not profit’ and his passionate desire to do something positive and life-changing – to help people enjoy a better future.

My fellow dinner guests agreed that my achievements to date were remarkable – a world record, performances at the London Palladium and Royal Albert Hall, teaching trips overseas and a partnership with the Salvation Army which helped me duplicate my Southend teaching model across the UK. In fact, they couldn’t believe this was all achieved with virtually no budget, entirely voluntarily and by calling in favours from friends. Chris pledged that, from this point on, his team of professionals would be at our disposal. I was no longer alone.

As we were served dessert, Penny revealed that she knew the Director of Music of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band Service, Lt Col. Jason Burcham. “I will speak to Jase over a glass of port and explore the possibility of a Music Man Project and Royal Marines collaboration.”

The rest is history.

Four years on from that dinner, The Music Man Project and the Royal Marines have established a unique and ground-breaking partnership which surpassed all our expectations: a top 10 Christmas single; joint performances in Greenwich, Portsmouth, Westminster and at Deal Memorial Bandstand; a concert tour to San Diego with a special performance on board the historic aircraft carrier, USS Midway; three standing ovations at the Mountbatten Festival of Music (including by His Majesty the King), a UK tour of 5 major cities with a standing ovation at every performance, two music videos and a concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Michael Ball.

Upon his retirement, Lt Col. Jason Burcham described the partnership as the highlight of his career.

We also performed at 10 Downing Street, Speaker's House and with the London Community Gospel Choir at the Hackney Empire. Michael Ball presented us with an award at the National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals on BBC1 and the Music Man Project Ambassadors received the King's Award for Voluntary Service. We've also featured on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky News and in national and international press and radio.

Internationally, we stole the show at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo accompanied by the Central Band of the RAF and performed ground-breaking joint concerts in Milan and Rome. I served 4 years as the UK Government's Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture and launched the first ever global network of disability music providers. The International Alliance of Accessible Music already has 12 members spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

I think that's what you call the snowball effect!

The result is that the UK is now a global beacon of accessible and inclusive music.

As we enter 2026, four years after that life-changing dinner, The Music Man Project is preparing for its most ambitious venture to date - 'Music is Magic on Broadway'. This will be the first New York performance featuring UK musicians with learning disabilities.

The Music Man Project is still supported by TEAM LEWIS. Dame Penny Mordaunt is now our charity president - the only person who could possibly follow Sir David Amess. He no doubt guides us all from the other side.

Apparently, my shiny shoes still had the labels attached, and I get teased about it to this day. Nonetheless, I left the apartment with a spring in my step and hope in my heart.

I will never forget the kindness shown to me on that day. Thank you Dame Penny, Chris, Samuel Dean and everyone at TEAM LEWIS.

TEAM LEWIS Foundation has now supported 2,600 charities globally since 2021.