Nicky and Darren of Scruffy Bear Media took great pride in contributing to the climate change music project 'Sing to Change: Boston 2 Boston'. Working in partnership with Ellie Bowers-Jolley of The Come and Sing Company, US not-for-profit Sea Us Rise, and Lincolnshire Music Service, the initiative set out to unite young people with the common goal of raising awareness of the global climate emergency and encouraging them to take action in response.
From December 2023 - June 2024, ’Sing to Change: Boston 2 Boston' brought together almost 1,500 primary school aged children from Boston UK and Boston USA to inspire discussions about climate issues and the urgency for change, all through the power of song. The two Bostons share more than just a name, with both areas having been affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in recent years.
With music, singing and the power of the human voice at the heart of the project, a choral arrangement of US eco-musician, Dane Myers’ song ‘Change’ was created for the school choirs as well as materials to help the children learn more about environmental issues. Project lead, Ellie Bowers-Jolley, also held in-person singing workshops with the children to teach them ways to open their voices and take them through the song to help them perform it to the best of their abilities. While we were there, we discussed the complex issue of climate change and the impact the children were aware of it having on their lives already. These discussions showed just how aware they were of environmental issues and the threat to our futures from climate change, even at such a young age.
After weeks of rehearsals, our amazing participants from 11 UK and 3 US schools were filmed performing the song to create a music video that would be released for all to enjoy and and embrace the notion that 'the only hope we know is if we do this together’. And to help make the music video as accessible as possible, American Sign Language, British Sign Language and Makaton versions were created which the children enjoyed learning, and sections were included in the final video.
The music video was released worldwide in March 2024 with a premiere screening at Kirton Primary School in the UK which linked them live to Boston Children’s Chorus in the US over Zoom to share the moment together. Some of the children had never left the UK or even the Boston area, let alone met anyone from the USA so it was a truly amazing experience for them all.
The music video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/_tNs_5KyNbc
In June 2024 came the release of the supporting documentary which follows the whole project from start to finish and gives a voice to the children involved; scientists interviewed for the project; and some background on how it grew from a pandemic song into an ocean-spanning project with hundreds of school children involved.
Thanks to our collaborators from National Trust Sandilands, and Dr Sophie Day of the University of East Anglia, the film highlights the impact of coastal erosion and climate change on our landscapes and the reality of what is to come if we do not take action now.
As touching as the music video is, the documentary is a moving record of creating art and community through song. There are sweet moments with the children to enjoy, as well as the goosebumps from the kids watching the debut together, more than 3,000 miles apart.
Project Lead, Elenor Bowers-Jolley, said,
“This project has been an absolute joy to be part of from start to finish and I am thrilled that the whole world now gets the opportunity to see how it all began, developed, and grew and grew into the wonderful ‘beast’ that it is today! But this isn’t the end of it for us – we need to continue having these important discussions with our young people so we keep a focus on the steps we have to take together to bring about real change. Plans for Sing to Change 2.0 are already in motion with a focus on food poverty, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, so watch this space for more news to come very soon!”
The project has since been shortlisted for 'Outstanding Musical Initiative' at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2025.
For more information on the project, which is supported by the Arts Council through a National Lottery Project Grant, visit the Sing to Change website where scores and arrangements of the song and educational resources are available to download for free via an online request form.
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Scruffy Bear Media, a small, independent company co-owned by Darren S Cook and Nicky Hagan, was founded in 2010 with a mission to create visual content that resonates with audiences across all genres, scales, and platforms. The company operates both nationally and internationally, covering a wide range of media production. This includes developing independent films and TV, creating content for and managing live-event streaming, as well as directing, producing, and editing a variety of video projects—from music videos to corporate films and more.
Darren is an award-winning film director having won the 2021 National Film Award for 'Best Feature' for ‘Lucas & Albert’ and 2010 Cannes 'Coup de Couer' for short film 'Broken Silence'. Scruffy Bear Media have several feature film projects in development including ‘Trespass’, 'sKorned' and 'The Well'.
Nicky and Darren took great pride in contributing to the climate change music project 'Sing to Change: Boston 2 Boston', where they produced, directed, and edited both the music video and the accompanying documentary.
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