Denbighshire Music Co-operative’s concerns that the National Music Service being developed by the Welsh Government could take their service back in-house have been raised in the Welsh Parliament this afternoon by North Wales MS Mark Isherwood.
Speaking in the Business Statement, Mr Isherwood, who visited the Co-operative earlier this month, referred to the quality music tuition they are providing in the Denbighshire and Wrexham areas and highlighted their worries regarding the development of the National Music Service.
He said:
“Earlier this month I visited Denbighshire Music Co-operative, a not-for-profit organisation providing quality music tuition in the Denbighshire and Wrexham areas, and winner of the ‘Tech For Good’ Award in the Social Business Wales Awards 2021.
“The Co-operative is run by the teachers for the benefit of pupils, managed by a Denbighshire-based Head of Service. They provide tuition on a wide range of instruments and voice, aiming to develop each pupil’s musical potential according to their individual needs and aspirations. Their successful and cost-effective model, meeting the health and wellbeing needs of children and young people, deserves to be supported to continue and to grow.
“They told me that they are the only music cooperative in Wales, they named Local Authorities either without a music service or looking to make all music teachers redundant, and they stated that only 2 Local Authorities in Wales provide a service for free school meal pupils, including Wrexham.
“They also told me that they have developed a model which works, but, having established a good foundation over 8 years, they need sustainable funding to become a North Wales or all Wales model, where they provide an opportunity for better, more cost efficient service delivery, led by the co-operative members who are themselves music professionals.
“However, they expressed concern that the National Music Service being developed by the Welsh Government should not take their service back in-house and asked whether the new National Music Service will include a new cooperative model with funding for cooperatives? I call for a Welsh Government Statement accordingly.”
The Trefnydd, Lesley Griffith MS, replied:
“As you said at the end of your contribution, the National Music Service is a Programme for Government commitment for us, and is currently being developed. So, I don't think it's appropriate at this point to bring forward a statement, but I'm certain that the Minister will be very interested to hear the comments that Mark Isherwood has brought forward from the co-operative, and I will make sure that their views are obviously taken into consideration as we bring forward the service.”
ENDS