The Yorkshire based phone and broadband provider, Plusnet, has stepped in to give support to Grimethorpe Colliery Band to help them overcome threatening funding cuts and continue to provide their youth education programme in the local community.

Echoes

With echoes of Grimethorpe’s own ‘people’s band’ epithet, the Yorkshire based company, which terms itself as being a ‘people’s champion’ of its own, has agreed to provide financial support to the band over the next two years.

Funds will be used to ensure the continuation of the band’s youth education scheme which will ensure 15 pupils between the ages of 8 and 11 at the Birkwood Primary School in South Yorkshire will have the opportunity to take music lessons.

Close to hearts

Nick Rawlings, Commercial Director of Plusnet told 4BR: "Plusnet has become famous for featuring brass bands in a number of our adverts and several of our customers started asking us, through our online community, to help the Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

This is clearly an issue very close to the hearts of a lot of people and we are proud to provide help for a special project that brings such a valued service to its community."

Impact

This was emphasized by school music co-ordinator Esther Sutton Smith: "Grimethorpe Colliery Band has made a massive impact on our little school — almost every day the band’s name is mentioned positively in and around Birkwood’s community.

The band should be very proud of the difference they are making to their local area."

We are so grateful for this support — Plusnet has shown itself to be a champion of the communityNigel Dixon

Grateful

Grimethorpe Colliery Band Manager, Nigel Dixon added: "Our funding cuts are having a very serious impact over what activities the band can undertake, and if it wasn’t for Plusnet we would not be able to provide such a key education tool for local children.

We are so grateful for this support — Plusnet has shown itself to be a champion of the community."