The Haverhill Primary Schools Brass Initiative was set up in late 2022. Diane and Richard Pannell began the project by starting up a group of six youngsters in Place Farm Primary Academy, Haverhill. These were children who showed an interest in learning a musical instrument following a presentation in a school assembly.

Each year, the initiative now teachers around twenty learners between Place Farm and Clements Primary Academies in Haverhill. Instruments and tuition books are lent to the students and weekly tuition (during school term time) is given free of charge. The parents are asked to commit to helping their child to look after the instruments and to practice at home. They also understand that there is an expectation that their child will join the Haverhill Youth and Community Band once they reach the required standard. While a number of children drop out when they realise that it’s not for them, in less than three years around eight children have progressed into our Youth & Community Band.