Sheeran started writing songs from a young age, after encouragement from a teacher, and says he wants to help plug the gap left by reduced arts funding. To support the launch of the foundation, the Grammy-winner is visiting schools and youth groups in Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh and Belfast.

A student who met Ed Sheeran as the star launched a music education foundation, said the meeting was a real surprise. Sheeran took students and staff aback when he toured three Coventry locations, where he also performed on Thursday, as well as playing in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

The singer said in a video that he launched the fund after hearing about the poor state of music education in England from one of his former teachers.

Ed Sheeran launches the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which will provide access and funding to music education, instruments, programs, and more for children.

Ed Sheeran told students there was too much pressure in schools towards financial jobs when the arts is such a key part of the British economy. Sheeran's comments come as he was launching the new Ed Sheeran Foundation, which advocates for the teaching of music in schools across the UK.