Providing the ‘how’ for creating opportunities that make the impossible possible

With her extensive expertise in coaching, charity development, and strategic growth, Tessa Armstrong offers invaluable strategic advice to individuals and organisations looking to enhance their impact and sustainability. As the founder of Voices for Life, Tessa has a proven track record in charity setup, scaling, and management, with a deep understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities within the sector.

Charity Expertise, Founders and Entrepreneurs

Setting up and running a charity requires a diverse skill set. Tessa’s experience covers every aspect of this process, from sustainability and outreach to impact assessment and fundraising. She provides strategic advice, coaching, mentoring, and training to help charities, founders and entrepreneurs navigate these challenges and achieve their goals. Her approach combines strategic insight with practical experience, ensuring that organisations can thrive and make a meaningful difference.

Voices for Life is a transformative charity dedicated to promoting wellbeing and building sustainable communities through music. Founded by Tessa Armstrong in 2021, the charity was established in response to the growing mental health challenges faced by young people and the declining music provision in schools. The organisation envisions a world where all children have the opportunity to experience the joy and benefits of music, creativity, and performance.

Since 2021, Voices for Life has achieved remarkable success:

• Fundraising Success: Raised around £600,000 to support its mission.
• Leadership: Built a team of 11 trustees and ambassadors.
• Team Growth: Developed a core administrative and music team of 16 professionals.
• Strategy: Released a new 5-year strategy
• Partnerships: Forged collaborations and partnerships throughout the Southwest.
• Rebranding: Successfully delivered a comprehensive rebrand to enhance its visibility and impact.
• Outreach: Engaged over 10,000 children across 50 primary schools, offering transformative musical experiences.
• High-Profile Performances: Enabled hundreds of children to perform at prestigious venues including Bath Abbey, Wiltshire Music Centre, and Truro Cathedral including to Her Majesty the Queen.
• Initiatives: Designed and developed 5 singing and wellbeing outreach singing projects based on wellbeing and coaching models and original music.
• Impact: Recent evaluations show significant improvements in confidence (80%) and enjoyment in singing (90%), with diverse engagement.

“The children had a wonderful experience of which they were very proud. The parents were super-impressed with the final result and they absolutely loved the whole evening. Tessa’s positivity and enthusiasm is incredible.”

Voices for Life Participating School

Awards and Recognition

Voices for Life has been recognised with several accolades, highlighting its impact and innovation:

• 2025 Bath Life Finalist: Arts and Creatives.
• 2024 Highly Commended: Creativity for Good, Creative Bath Awards 2024.
• 2023 Bath Life Award: Education Category.

Tessa Armstrong has also received personal recognition for her outstanding contributions:

• 2025 Attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of Tessa’s work.
• 2025 Voted as one of Bath & Somerset’s Most Inspiring Women.
• 2024 Creative Bath Awards: Finalist in the Founder/Entrepreneur category.
• 2023 High Sheriff of Somerset Award: In acknowledgment of her valuable services to the community through Voices for Life.

Tessa’s journey with Voices for Life exemplifies her commitment to fostering positive change through music and highlights her capacity to drive strategic success in the charity sector.

.