A charity is appealing for donations of unwanted bagpipes.
A piping trust is giving free tuition to more than 1000 pupils in schools across Scotland – many in the most deprived areas – and need instruments for youngsters to play.
The trust has been set up because the vast majority of pupils in Scottish schools do not have the chance to learn the pipes and drums in the classroom on the same basis as other instruments.
After spending up to two years learning on practice chanters the young players progress to the full instrument that can cost hundreds of pounds.
The bagpipe amnesty appeal was launched today with the help of schoolkids and firefighters at Govan Fire station, by The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust.
Called Old Pipes for New Players, it was founded with the belief that piping can change lives for the better.
Unwanted pipes can be given a new lease of life by being handed into Clydebank and Dumbarton Fire Stations.
Trust Chief Executive Alexandra Duncan said: “We are really grateful to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for backing our campaign which will hopefully help change lots of young people’s lives for the better.
“Piping and being part of a band develop a wide range of life and employability skills including teamwork, individual and shared achievement, discipline, commitment and self confidence as well as musicality. It is a shame that the vast majority of our young people are not offered the chance to learn our national instruments in schools.
“The SSPDT is helping more than 1000 children across the country to learn the pipes and drums in state schools. This includes youngsters from some of Scotland’s most deprived areas who would never have the chance to learn piping.
“But with such a big programme – and with more young people interested in piping – we need pipes to take these young musicians to the next level.
“Donated instruments that need some work to bring them back to life will be refurbished free of charge by Wallace Bagpipes.
We are also very grateful to Genius PPT for providing a Freephone telephone line during the appeal.”
Firefighters Paul Lavery, left and Steven Walls, look on as Kaylee Clugson, Damilola Fadun and Yin Chen play their pipes at Govan Fire Station.
The SSPDT trustees believe there must be hundreds of sets of pipes lying unused in cupboards and attics that could be given a new lease of life.
Alex added: “We launched the Bagpipe Amnesty on Burns Night – a perfect time to try to spark awareness on the appeal.
“We want to appeal to people in West Dunbartonshire who may have an old set of pipes in their loft or under your bed. Or you may have stopped playing them because of ill-health or inherited some that you don’t use.
“Please donate them to the Bagpipe Amnesty and help change young lives for the better.”
Donations of pipes can be made from February 1-14. Call 0808 281 9405 to find your nearest station or find out more information on all aspects of the Bagpipe Amnesty from www.sspdt.org.uk. The appeal is also being supported by a comprehensive social media campaign (insert FB/Twitter handles), which includes a gallery of videos (insert link the video gallery)
