Over 16,000 pupils in 29 state schools in areas of high deprivation will soon have access to new musical instruments and equipment thanks to a new grant from Restore the Music.
The grant totals £420,000, and will be delivered to state schools in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. So far, 120 schools have benefited from £2.2 million of funding from the charity, reaching 80,000 pupils aged 4–18.
According to CEO Polly Moore, ‘Music unlocks potential which makes it a powerful tool for change. Yet young people – particularly those facing the biggest barriers – are being denied this. We invest in all young people, reaching them through our grants to school music departments. Music is not just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.’
Founded in 2013, Restore the Music was originally a London-centric grant programme. Since becoming a charity in 2017, its Restore the Music Capital Grant Programme is now open to applicants in cities in the north of the UK.
The fund offers grant awards of £10,000 and £20,000 for diverse and accessible instruments and equipment in primary and secondary state schools. It also runs annual ‘battles of the bands’ and music teacher celebration dinners to mark the outcomes of the funding.
The funding is targeted to schools with well above-average Free School Meals and Pupil Premium percentages. Applicants must be schools serving families in areas of high socio-economic deprivation, measured against a range of factors including household income, Free School Meals, and Pupil Premium.
