Live music fundraising will help SVI offer more social activities and days out for members.
Sandwell Visually Impaired (SVI) is thrilled to have been selected as one of the charities that Busking For Charity (BFC) and The Buskateers will support in 2026. These popular local fundraisers are musicians, radio personalities and venue owners.
The partnership will see a series of live music events and ongoing fundraising activities take place throughout the year, with money raised helping SVI to offer more trips, social opportunities and activities for people living with sight loss across Sandwell.
Busking For Charity was founded by Billy Spakemon (Dr Brian Dakin), a longstanding friend of SVI. Many members will remember Billy from performances at SVI open meetings. As well as when The Buskateers (Billy and Tim Martin) played during the Active 60 Black Country Mon narrow boat trip in 2024. They also appeared at the Volunteer Celebration event we held last year, together with mental health charity Kaleidoscope. The Buskateers’ connection with SVI has helped bring this fundraising partnership together.
The group was originally set up to support the Sandwell Breast Cancer Unit, which cared for Billy’s late wife for more than 12 years. Since then, Busking For Charity has grown organically, expanding its work to support departments at Russells Hall Hospital and a wide range of local community organisations. To date, the group has donated over £100,000 to more than 30 local causes.
Today, Busking For Charity operates as a democratic collective, bringing together performers, radio personalities and venue owners who are committed to giving back to the local community. In 2025 alone, the group raised and distributed £21,000 to six organisations, with similarly ambitious fundraising plans in place for 2026.
Sandra, Development Worker at Sandwell Visually Impaired, said: “We are delighted that the Buskateers have selected SVI to be one of their chosen charities for 2026. Money they raise will enable us to offer more trips out and social activities for our members in the years to come.”
SVI looks forward to working closely with Busking For Charity and The Buskateers throughout 2026.
