The pandemic, successive lockdowns and school budget cuts have seen many children and young people in rural areas, deprived towns and cities miss out on picking up an instrument. That is why this year the BBE Brass Foundations team took up the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge to raise funds that would allow them to continue their work. With a modest target of £800, the team is delighted to announce that we completed the challenge, with £865 raised of the £800 target. This is largely due to generous donations from individuals within the brass playing community, who we would like to take this opportunity to send our sincere thanks to.
The Christmas Challenge takes place over just one week, where givers get the chance to have any donation they make doubled by match-funding. One donation, twice the impact!
100% of the money raised will go towards covering tuition costs for children and young people to experience brass playing for the first time, from providing the instrument to giving support in joining a local band or ensemble.
What is Brass Foundations?
Brass Foundations is Brass Bands England’s flagship education programme, which takes children from their first taster session right through to performance at the Youth Champs. It is delivered by five Youth Brass Development Specialists each operating in a specific geographical area, supporting musical youth organisations and facilitating local bands to invigorate their own youth programmes.
Since its inception in early 2021, the project has so far reached over 6,472 young people in rural areas and deprived towns and across England, and has recently been shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Musical Initiative’ category of the Music & Drama Education Awards. involved 10,000 children and young people in a range of activities, from bespoke brass instrument workshops to, for many, their first concert at a #PromsInThePlayground event.
To see members of the team in action, watch the video below:
Can I still help support Brass Foundations?
Anyone who wishes to provide further support can make a one-off or monthly donation, or find out more about how to leave a legacy to the programme.
If you’d like to find out more about how to get involved in the programme please visit the Brass Foundations page or contact BBE’s Education and Development Manager Sarah Baumann on sarah@bbe.org.uk.