Greenham Common Trust launches music bursary for disadvantaged children

The £185,000 will help encourage more youngsters to play instruments

A BURSARY of £185,000 has been launched by Greenham Common Trust to help children from disadvantaged families in West Berkshire learn to play an instrument.

The Music Bursary Fund will be used to purchase instruments and pay for tuition for children aged from seven to 11, and has been set up with Berkshire Maestros, local ensemble group Southern Sinfonia and local primary schools.

Pupils will be selected to benefit from funding by headteachers of the district’s primary schools.

Berkshire Maestros chief executive Philip Litchfield said: “We are so grateful to Greenham Common Trust for their investment in the future of music education in West Berkshire.

“This bursary will make a significant difference to so many children and young people and will enable hundreds of extra children to take up learning to play a musical instrument.”

Greenham Common Trust chief executive Chris Boulton added: “Sometimes talented children miss out on an opportunity to learn an instrument because their parents can’t afford to pay for lessons.

“The trust would like to help give these children the opportunity to reach their potential.”

To mark the launch, Southern Sinfonia will perform a free 45-minute concert at Brockhurst and Marlston School on Thursday, June 18.

For more information, email philiplitchfield@berskshiremaestros.org.uk