Several youngsters from Shanklin Town Brass Band recently prepared a succesful bid to secure funding from the Government's Youth Capital Fund Scheme.

Their bid secured £22,000 to install gas central heating, two new toilets — including an accessible WC, and a new access ramp at the Band's grade II listed band room, Rylstone Chalet, in Rylstone Gardens, Shanklin.

Their bid secured £22,000 to install gas central heating, two new toilets — including an accessible WC, and a new access ramp at the Band's grade II listed band room, Rylstone Chalet, in Rylstone Gardens, Shanklin4BR

Highlight

Malcolm Lewis, Musical Director and founder of the Band was proud to highlight the youngster's hard work at a Concert at Westminster Abbey Gardens in London last August, when Lauren Sebastian, Dan Reynolds, James Sparks, Hollie James, Millie Pusey, Emma Cusworth and Sophie Cusworth received certificates of thanks from the Band and its President Dennis Wilby.

Before the funding could be released the Band had to secure a new lease from the Local Authority from whom the building is rented and this took longer than anticipated.

Heating up and running

However, the heating is now up and running, ensuring that youngsters no longer stick to their instruments in the cold weather, and the ramp is in the process of being built. The Band hope that with the new accessibility features they can open up the facilitities and rehearsals to a wider population.