Brass Bands England (BBE) has launched its brand new website, aimed at bringing a major change in the delivery of its services.

It will now allow bands to manage their membership online, as well as setting up more convenient forms of payment for their annual membership renewal.

The new website can be found at http://www.brassbandsengland.co.uk/

New features include:

'Members Resources' area, which will build a selection of new resources for BBE members, such as detailed guidance on finance, funding, charity advice etc

An 'event listings' feature will allow bands to create events pages to promote their activities. The adverts will also be listed publicly.

A 'vacancy listings' (free to members) where bands can advertise empty seats in need of being filled. This will work alongside a new 'Find a Band' feature in which potential new members can find a band of a suitable level in their local area, read all about it.

The website will continue to show news, case studies and free advice and guidance that will be made available to everyone.

Better access

BBE Partnership & Development Manager, Alex Parker, told 4BR: "The website will give our members a much better way to access services, as well as giving us an online payment platform for the first time.

The website will continue to develop future new services for our members whilst delivering existing services more efficiently. In fact, some new ideas are already in the pipeline."

He added: "To use the website, users should create an account to access the 'members only' areas. You will be asked which band you play for and your band's administrator will be able to confirm your membership.

In the first instance, current member bands will have our main contact set up as the administrator, but any wishing to have this amended should email info@bbe.org.uk "

New Membership structure

BBE has also announced a new membership structure from 1st September.

1-band Membership: £100 per year.
NB — This is also suitable for Brass Band Associations/Networks (there will be a separate 'Association Membership' launched in January 2019).

2-band Membership: £150 per year.

3-bands Membership: £175 per year.

4-plus-band Membership: £200 per year.

Student/Youth Band Membership: £75 per year (Student Membership to launch mid-September).

Individual Membership: £25 per year.

The website will continue to develop future new services for our members whilst delivering existing services more efficiently. In fact, some new ideas are already in the pipelineBBE Partnership & Development Manager, Alex Parker

Price

Alex continued: "The price of membership is based on the number of groups within each organisation. eg. If you have a senior band and a youth band, we would encourage you to purchase the 2-band membership at the reduced rate for the second.

If you have a senior band, a youth band and a training band, then you may wish to select a 3-band membership, with a further reduction for the third band.

The number of bands registered is entirely a matter for each organisation, but we appreciate that some are constituted separately within the same umbrella organisation and may wish to have their own BBE membership.

Best services

He concluded: "We believe our new structure is more equitable and allows progressive organisations, which will benefit most from our services, to register all of their groups with BBE at very attractive rates.

Our primary responsibility is to our members and we want to provide the best services to as many bands as possible. We are confident that these changes will help us to do just that."