Brass Bands Emergency Fund

As the Covid-19 emergency continues to escalate, Brass Bands England’s priority is to support the brass banding community during this time of crisis.

To assist bands at this critical time, today Brass Bands England (BBE) is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for bands with ongoing financial commitments.

Although the crowdfunding campaign is organised by BBE, by donating you are not donating to Brass Bands England directly, as all the funds will go directly to member bands that apply to access the hardship fund.

From Monday 20 April, bands will be able to apply for access to the funds raised, if they need help with any of the following costs.

● Assistance with rent payments the band is committed to

● Assistance with payments for contracted conductors

● Assistance with payments for ongoing projects (i.e. set payments for commissions)

Documentary evidence will be requested to support all applications, which will be subject to approval by designated Brass Bands England Trustees,

whose decision will be final. Full details will be made available on the BBE website in due course (bbe.org.uk).

In addition to coordinating, Brass Bands England is giving away some perks to people who donate including free tickets to events, and individual memberships.

BBE are also encouraging bands to donate in kind to the cause, by donating perks to add to the crowdfunding page, for example, tickets to an upcoming concert or a CD. If your band is interested in donating any perks email Sarah Baumann on sarah@bbe.org.uk.

Brass Bands England’s Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Crookston, commented: “This is a very worrying time for all of us and all of us at BBE are extremely concerned for the future of the many hundreds of bands that make up our vibrant community. Many of these groups have ongoing commitments that will be impossible for them to meet with no income from engagements, so we will do whatever we can do to alleviate these problems. Please donate as much as you can comfortably afford in the knowledge that every penny will go to brass bands throughout the country.”

To see further details of the crowdfunding campaign, and donate to the fund go to www.chuffed.org/project/brassbandemergencyfund.

Although, due to the recent government guidance, lots of brass banding activity is restricted, the BBE team are still working from home and looking at a variety of ways to assist the sector at this difficult time. Keep an eye on the facebook page and website for more exciting announcements in the coming days.