Young people are set to benefit from a whopping grant of almost £160,000 to enable more musical experiences to take place across the county. Durham County Council’s arts team has secured £157,169 from Youth Music which will enable a full programme of musical activity worth a quarter of a million pounds for children and young people across the county.
It’s one of the biggest awards Youth Music has made nationally and the assessment panel said that they were impressed with the council’s application, which had strong competition.
Paul Hebron, positive activities manager, said: “We are delighted to be a partner in an initiative which will provide the opportunity for young people who attend youth work projects to be involved in music programmes that will benefit them in both the short and long term. I am especially pleased that the programme will offer training opportunities for youth workers.”
A programme of activities is being organised including youth band work with youth workers, delivered by Generator and working in partnership with further education colleges and schools, Durham Music Service and other partners. Young people who access the CATS programme as part of the council’s Specialist and Safeguarding Services will have the opportunity, on a regular basis, to take part in sessions delivered by music leaders from The Sage in Gateshead.
All activities will take place until April 2014. Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member with responsibility for culture, said: “We really welcome this funding. It’s fantastic that our young people will be given the opportunity to take part in sessions such as this as arts and culture are so important to learning and knowledge.” For more information on the work of the council’s arts team, call: 03000 265 550 or email: artsdevelopmentteam@durham.gov.uk
