The West Wales Grand Charity and UNity Lodge support Burry Port Town Band

Prior to its June meeting Unity Lodge were pleased to present a cheque for £500 to Burry Port Town Band.

The band made the following statement:-

Burry Port Town Band Youth Development Plan. 2023 to August 2026 Burry Port Town Band, established 1896, are extremely pleased to announce that its application to the West Wales Grand Charity and Unity Lodge, Llanelli for funding towards its three-year Youth Development Plan has been successful.

The WWGC has pledged a total of £9412 over the three years with Unity Lodge providing funding of £1500 over the same period. The Youth Development Plan is focused on School Years 5 and 6, the later years of Primary Education, through the Band’s ‘Blast off into Brass’ initiative. The plan is to encourage 12 to 18 young players per year to begin brass instrument playing. To facilitate this, there will be the need to purchase instruments, support materials and music and to provide professional, experienced, and knowledgeable tuition in addition to working with the Carmarthenshire Music Service. The aim is to keep the initiative free for all participants to ensure that there are no barriers to engagement. The benefits would be twofold: The Band would be able to offer the children taking part the chance to learn to play a musical instrument with no financial burden and in the longer term the investment in Youth is seen as vital to the continued development, viability, and sustainability of the Senior Band. Enabling it to continue, not only its future Youth Development Plans, but it’s considerable engagement and support of the local community.

Pictured with Brethren of Unity Lodge is the Worshipful Master, Lionel Hughes, presenting the first £500 instalment from the Lodge to Mr Emyr Rees, Band Manager, together with Band members Andrew Rolland, Corey Naylor and Corey’s parents, Jayne, and Stuart Naylor.