The reigning North West Area champion Fairey will host Brass Bands England, Liaison Officer Rachel Veitch-Straw in what will be the latest round of her popular funding information seminars

The October meeting will be open to members of all brass bands and organisations, and will focus on local, regional and national funding sources, as well as on differing ways to attract financial support.

Ideal way

Rachel told 4BR: "These Funding Network Meetings are an ideal way to share vital information with bands, to network and to chat.

It’s a great opportunity to help each other, share experiences and information that can benefit everyone and to consider the kind of collaborations which are so attractive to funders.”

Funds and grants

The seminar will give information on small community funds and potential Arts Council England Grants, as well as more creative methods of fundraising, such as crowdfunding.

Advice

Lesley Reynolds of Sale Brass told 4BR that her band had certainly benefited from using Rachel’s expertise.

"Rachel’s funding workshops were phenomenally helpful. I thought I knew about fundraising, having been ploughing that furrow for many years, but the candid advice she gave was second to none.

She does all the hard work for fundraisers with excellent advice on the wording of applications, and how to hit the right buttons."

She added: "My style of application has improved thanks to Rachel, and as a result Sale Brass has raised £14,500 for new instruments during 2014."

Rachel’s funding workshops were phenomenally helpful. I thought I knew about fundraising, having been ploughing that furrow for many years, but the candid advice she gave was second to noneLesley Reynolds

Time, date and place

The seminar takes place on Wednesday October 22nd from 7.30pm until 9.30 pm at the Fairey Bandroom, in the WFEL factory at the end of Sir Richard Fairey Road in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, SK4 5DY.

If you intend to join the event, please email Rachel@brassbandsengland.co.uk

The next Funding Network Meetings is planned to take place in Oxfordshire.