Our Journey to Becoming a Trust

WED 23 OCT 2013

With funding for music education reducing and a more competitive music teaching environment, West Sussex County Council has ensured the continued future of the Music Service by removing local authority control.

West Sussex Music Trust is an independent company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Trading as West Sussex Music, we launched on 1 November 2013.

Being a charitable trust enables West Sussex Music to take advantage of new ways to raise money, such as grants, sponsorship and gift-aid on donations. This will supplement the income from fees paid for music tuition at schools and music centres and the national grant for music education.

The national funding is administered by Arts Council England. West Sussex Music has been recognised by Arts Council England as demonstrating a commitment to provide high quality music education by working in partnership with a range of national and local organisations.

In order to receive the Arts Council England grant West Sussex Music has had to show it can:

• ensure that every child aged 5 – 18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument
• provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage
• ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people
• develop a singing strategy to ensure that every pupil sings regularly and that choirs and other vocal ensembles are available
• offer continuous professional development to music teachers, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum
• provide a low cost instrument loan service
• provide access to large-scale and high quality events.