Dear parent/carer,

The Department of Education have informed all Music Education Hubs and therefore Music Services that we are no longer to deliver music education in schools, or at our Music Centre. In order to secure the future of the music service, we have had to make the difficult decision to furlough our teachers for the next three months. We will not be charging our parents during this period and we ask that parents ignore the invoices sent out to them in March for the summer term. All direct debits will be paused until the Autumn.

If you feel you would like to help secure the future of the Music Service and would like to donate all or part of your invoice to the charity who supports the music service, you can donate by bank transfer or by setting up a standing order. The Friends Association provides hardship and second instrument bursaries, buys expensive instruments we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to provide, pays for exciting performance venues and contribute to overseas tour costs.

Friends of Bury Music Service Natwest Account Sort Code: 010142            Account Number: 18151434

If you would like to Gift Aid your donation, please complete the gift aid form on our website https://burymusic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Friends-Gift-Aid-Form.pdf

and return to themendeddrum@btinternet.com or FBMC 1 Stone Close, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL09QQ.

We understand that this is a very difficult time for all our families and we wish to make things as easy as possible for them in the coming months, whilst also ensuring that the music service is still able to provide an excellent music education to our students when the schools reopen.

We will be regularly posting music activities for children to take part in at home, and we would love to see some of your performances on Twitter #musicathome @burymusic. Our teachers will be contacting you via your email address to offer you some exciting support opportunities while they are off so please look out for those emails.

Our office is now closed, however we are still answering calls and replying to email queries so please keep in touch and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Kind regards,

Gemma Price

Head of Service

mail@burymusic.co.uk    www.burymusic.co.uk   @burymusic

Bury Music Service Limited    Registered in England No. 2796947