Irvine & Dreghorn Brass is celebrating after gaining a funding boost of £11,219 from 'The Peoples Postcode Lottery' to assist in setting up a new Community brass group.

Irvine & Dreghorn Brass has an 'access to all' ethos which underpins their community banding activities in North Ayrshire.

The band purchased the local Dunlop Memorial Hall via a Community Asset Transfer in 2020 to create a community music centre, and the building is now used by the band for rehearsals, teaching of brass and percussion for both children and adults, and for community concerts.

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Band Chairperson, Frazer Kirk told 4BR: "The band are delighted and we thank the players of the People Postcode Lottery for their support and funding. The funds will be used to purchase musical instruments and equipment to enable us to start a new community brass group that compliments our current senior band and children's bands."

He added: "We know there is a big demand for people wanting to participate in music, and we are open to giving everyone in our community an opportunity to learn an instrument and play in a brass group if they want. Making music in a group has amazing health benefits and improves the mental well-being and happiness of participants, I would recommend it for anyone".