A GRANT of £10,000 has proved music to the ears of Kearsley Youth Brass Band.

The band, which meets at Kearsley Mount Methodist Church in Manchester Road, Kearsley, has been awarded the boost by The Big Lottery Fund to continue a project launched to allow residents to get involved in music.

The project, named Kearsley Musical Alliance Development, has enabled residents to take part in weekly music sessions provided by qualified and experienced musicians.

They have also performed in concerts in their community and across Bolton.

One of the groups was even invited to London to showcase their new skills.

The Big Lottery Fund cash will be injected into brass band training and a community choir to allow more people to come together.

The work is aimed to reduce isolation and provide “aspirational activities” for young people.

All ages are welcome to get involved.

Ukulele lessons will also be starting later this month.

Stephen Tonge, chairman of Kearsley Youth Brass Band, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this funding.

“Working together with our partners Bolton Music Service, Kearsley Mount Methodist Church and supported by Bolton at Home we can now continue with this successful community project.

“In fact we are expanding and will run six one-hour weekly taster sessions for anyone wanting to play the ukulele.”

He said the activities had helped “change hearts and minds in a community which would otherwise have had neither musical opportunity nor aspiration”.

Mr Tonge was presented with the cheque last Saturday at a community musical concert at Kearsley Mount Methodist Church.

The ukulele sessions will take place at 6pm starting from Wednesday, April 30.