Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, leading Scottish rock musicians and a Football legend came together today at Hibernian Football Club to present young musicians with guitars donated by the Fender Music Foundation to a programme funded by monies seized from criminals.
Mr MacAskill was joined at Easter Road by Dirk Robertson from the Foundation and Hibernian FC Legend Michael Weir to watch the guitars put through their paces as musicians Rod Jones from Idlewild and Louis Abbott from Admiral Fallow took part in a workshop with young Edinburgh musicians who’ve learnt to play thanks to SPFL Music Box.
The Fender Music Foundation has donated seven Stratocaster guitars for use by young people taking part in SPFL Music Box throughout Scotland.
At Easter Road this year, young people are enjoying chances to take part in song writing and recording workshops, learn about the wider music industry and participate in performances and showcases. No experience is required to take part and all instruments are provided for free.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
“I am delighted to be here today to see how young people in Scotland are benefitting from the unique Cashback-funded Music Box scheme.
“I am extremely grateful to Dirk Robertson and the Fender Music Foundation for their donation of Fender Guitars to the Cashback- funded Music Box scheme. This is the first time the Fender Guitar Foundation have donated guitars outside the USA and I hope this generous donation will be the start of strong and vibrant relationship between Cashback and the Foundation.
“I’d also like to extend my thanks to the SPFL Trust and Hibernian Football Club for hosting this event and to the musicians who have given up their time to come along today
“Since Cashback for Communities was introduced by this Government in 2007, thousands of young people have benefited from over 1.1 million sporting, arts and community activities, all funded from ill-gotten cash seized from crooks.
“Last week we announced that a further £24m of funding will become available to organisations like this one right across Scotland, taking the total we have invested in Cashback to over £74m.”
Dirk Robertson, Fender Music Foundation, said:
“Music feeds the soul, playing an instrument gives you a means to communicate with the world, so you can join people, inside, instead of being outside, waiting for them.”
“Billy Singh, General Manager SPFL Trust:
“The SPFL Trust would like to sincerely thank the Fender Music Foundation for their generous donation of guitars to our Music Box project. In partnership with our top Scottish football clubs, Music Box gives young people across Scotland the chance to take part in free music workshops at their local club, and the addition of some top of the range guitars will make their experience all the better”
Leonie Bell, Acting Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland concluded:
“SPFL Music Box is opening up a world of music making to young people across Scotland, in particular those who wouldn’t have these amazing opportunities thanks to the fact it is free to take part. The fantastic generosity of the Fender Music Foundation in donating these guitars is hugely appreciated by everyone involved in delivering and supporting SPFL Music Box.”
SPFL Music Box offers young people aged 10-16 who are interested in learning a musical instrument free music sessions at fourteen of Scotland's top football clubs.
It is supported through Creative Scotland’s CashBack for Creativity programme, the creative aspect of the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities programme which takes monies seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act and invest it into activities for young people across Scotland.
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