Council confirms new model for Inspiring Music following consultation
Thursday, 12 June 2025
At a meeting of the Council’s Executive on Tuesday 3 June 2025, Central Bedfordshire Council confirmed it will make changes to its out of school hours music service.
We will establish a new central Saturday music hub for Inspiring Music in Ampthill, supported by satellite centres.
The decision follows a four-week public consultation held earlier this year, where residents were invited to share their views on plans to reconfigure the delivery of the service.
Under the new model, a central music hub will be established in town, providing Saturday morning sessions with specialist tutors. In addition, smaller satellite centres will be introduced in larger towns across Central Bedfordshire - Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade with a view to expand to other areas - which will offer after-school music programmes during the week.
Inspiring Music has been delivering music lessons in schools and local music centres for nearly 40 years. A survey carried out by Inspiring Music in 2023 revealed that young people wanted to see more variety and contemporary options from the service. However, due to financial challenges, including rising costs and a decline in membership, expanding the service as requested was not financially viable under the existing model. To deliver more projects, invest in new instruments, and develop contemporary music activities, it was essential to review how the out-of-school music programme is delivered, to ensure that every young person has access to music education.
Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:
We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation. It’s clear that there’s strong support for music education in our communities, and we remain committed to providing accessible, engaging opportunities for young people to explore and enjoy music. Inspiring Music’s offer in school won’t change, but the new model for weekend sessions reflects the need to adapt to changes in how families access the service. By centralising some provision and expanding local access through satellite centres, we can reduce costs, attract new tutors, and offer a wider range of music activities that better reflect young people’s interests.
For more information and updates, please visit the Inspiring Music website.