News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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24/07/2009 - New music store says, ‘Take it Away’

Andy Burnham MP today visited a Leigh success story - Heybook Music Store on Charles Street and discovered that the store is helping budding musicians purchase instruments thanks to an Arts Council England’s initiative.

‘Take it away’ encourages more people to get involved in learning and playing music.

Designed to make musical instruments more easily affordable for families and those on lower incomes, the scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free.

The scheme is run by the Arts Council's trading subsidiary company, ArtCo Trading Ltd, in conjunction with The Musical Instrument Finance Company (MIFCO) who are the credit provider.

Leigh based Heybrook Music, on Charles Street is promoting the scheme to help budding musicians purchase instruments using the affordable payment schedule offered ‘Take it away’.

Take it away is open to everyone (over the age of 18), but is primarily designed to help those who might otherwise be unable to afford an instrument appropriate for their needs.

The priorities are:

• to encourage children and young people to develop their interests and skills in music making
• to inspire new players of all ages to begin learning an instrument
• to enable those on lower incomes to acquire an instrument appropriate to their needs (or the needs of their children)
• to provide finance for professional musicians

Grahame Hill of Heybrook Music said, “We are pleased that we met the Arts Councils strict guidelines to be a member of this scheme. They ‘mystery shopped’ us to make sure we offered such things as tuition, repairs, new and used instruments and that we had a high level of expertise in our chosen field. So far we have been able to offer instruments to musicians, students and other people who normally struggle to get credit; which is exactly what the scheme was set up to do.”

Andy Burnham MP said, “’Take it away’ is open to everyone, but I am particularly keen to support young and aspiring music makers to develop their interests and talents and realise their ambitions in the music industry."

“Heybrook Music is to be congratulated and I am delighted to learn that as a new business here in Leigh they are doing well and I know that the dedication of Grahame and his staff will inspire more young people to pick up an instrument and get involved.”

Heybrook Music is situated at 8 Charles Street (off Bradshawgate) and they can be contacted on 01942 607148

More details of the scheme can be found on the web at; http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/takeitaway/index.php