A dedicated volunteer who has helped to transform the London music scene by volunteering with Sofar Sounds, an organisation that puts on gigs in unique places, giving local artists somewhere to hone their performance skills, has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Ras Fernando, 31, volunteers with Shoreditch-based SofarSounds who have launched the careers of award winning bands including Bastille, Hozier and Stornoway. As one of the first to join the core volunteer team, he has used his professional project management skills to to grow the organisation from its London base and it now stages concerts around the world.
Ras is the latest recipient of the Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.
Sofar Sounds has organised 1,600 gigs, with over half of these taking place in the UK. 3,500 artists have been supported worldwide, attracting an enormous 50,000 people to the gigs. Ras has been involved at all levels – from dealing with logistics and marketing to acting as the master of ceremonies at gigs around the Capital.
He is the 236th winner of the Points of Light award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA and was first established by President George H. W. Bush. Over 5,000 US Points of Light have been awarded and both President George H. W. Bush and President Barack Obama have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK which honours shining examples of volunteering across the country.
Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Point of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “By bringing his professional skills to Sofar Sounds, Ras has given thousands of artists the opportunity to have their material heard by music lovers up and down the country. I am pleased to recognise his dedication with a Point of Light Award”.
