Councillor George Finch, Deputy Leader of the Council, approved the acceptance of a £258,728 grant from the Department for Education (DfE) for musical instruments and equipment in Warwickshire schools. The grant will be managed as a capital project programme, with all purchased instruments and equipment remaining the property of the Heart of England Music Hub¹.

Musical Instrument Capital Grant

Warwickshire Music, the council's music education service, will receive the Musical Instrument Capital Grant as a Collaborative Lead Organisation (CLO) for the Heart of England Music Hub. Councillor George Finch authorised the Executive Director for Resources to finalise agreements and procurements necessary to implement the decision. The grant money has been added to the capital programme.

The decision was made urgently, with consent granted by Councillor Andy Crump, Chair of the Resources and Fire & Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee, because delays in confirming how the grant would be received meant that purchases needed to be made quickly so that equipment could be available for the new academic year. According to the council's constitution, Standing Order 18, urgent decisions can be made if following standard procedures would prejudice the council or the public interest.

The grant is part of a £25 million national investment by the DfE to support the aims of the National Plan for Music Education. The funding is intended to help Music Hubs purchase musical instruments, equipment, and technology to ensure all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have access to high-quality music education.

The grant will be used to:

• Provide musical instruments and equipment to all schools in Warwickshire.
• Support teachers and enhance the delivery of the music curriculum and co-curriculum.
• Resource instrumental lessons, music groups, and music projects delivered by Warwickshire Music and other Music Hub partners working in Warwickshire.

Coventry City Council, through its Music Service, is the named Hub Lead Organisation (HLO) for the Heart of England Music Hub and is responsible for receiving and distributing grant funding from the DfE to the members of the Regional Hub (including Warwickshire County Council) and ensuring its use in line with the terms of the grant. A Memorandum of Understanding has been established with Coventry City Council outlining the terms of acceptance and procurement arrangements required by the DfE.

The grant, which is administered by Arts Council England, must be spent by 31 August 2026. All instruments and equipment purchased through this funding will be treated as deferred assets, as they remain the property of the Heart of England Music Hub.