Toyota community grant from Hills of Woodford makes local school band’s dreams come true

A Toyota Community Fund grant facilitated by the Hills of Woodford dealership has helped Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green acquire new music equipment, enabling student band, The Displacements to pursue their dream and record their first track: ‎Bring Me Back – Song by The Displacements – Apple Music .

The school received £1,600 to help fund new microphones and sound equipment, to raise the quality of live performances on its new stage.

The band of four 17-year-olds: Brandon Crisp, Ella Bashford, Leo Praseuth and Jay Praseuth, are studying for A-levels at the school. They came together in May 2024, rehearsing after school and performing in local venues including the Horse and Well pub in Woodford Green.

Band manager Ella Rose, who is also a student at Trinity Catholic High School, applied for the Toyota Community Fund grant through Hills of Woodford, due to its close proximity to the school, its strong connection to the local area and its regular hosting of community events.

The Toyota Community Fund helps charities and schools across the UK, making financial donations to support a wide range of community initiatives to improve quality of life and the environment. Local good causes are nominated by Toyota and Lexus centres to receive grants of up to £2,000.  Since the fund was launched in 2011, more than £1.62 million has been distributed.

The band included a Toyota Aygo X Hybrid in their video for Bring Me Back, which can be viewed here:Bring Me Back.  

Ella Rose commented: “It was a natural decision to include the car in our video, given the funding partnership and we actually wrote the song with the Aygo in mind.  We hope it’ll connect with young people like us who are learning to drive or thinking about getting their first car.”

Filming around Woodford allowed the band to showcase local locations such as Woodford train station and Hills of Woodford.  However, as the band members are all learning to drive, they drove the car on private land under supervision. Since the video was filmed, Ella Bashford has passed her driving test and has test driven a Toyota Aygo.

Nahide Crisp, Group Sales and Marketing Director for Hills of Woodford commented, “It felt like a natural fit to bring together the school, the band and Toyota through a shared sense of community, by providing funding that directly benefits the school.  We wish The Displacements every success in the future and we’re proud to have helped them on their musical journey while supporting the school’s music provision for the benefit of all its students.”

ENDS