Eileen Sumpter of Dunfermline Junior Chorus tells us how this young singing group benefitted from one of Creative Lives' Keep on Creating microgrants.

"We are a choir of over 100 children and young people, based in Dunfermline. We provide high-quality musical education to children who learn to read and interpret music, teamwork, professional behaviour and performance skills. 

There are no auditions to join the choir, everyone is welcome, from Primary 2 to leaving school, and many of our children stay with us throughout their school years. We give three well-attended concerts every year.

We received a microgrant from Creative Lives in 2022, to help us keep children and young people singing in our choir by giving assistance with paying fees. We try to keep our fees as low as possible but even so, some parents can’t afford them and some have fallen into arrears. The grant of £300 has allowed us to wipe out arrears for one or two choristers so that they can continue in the choir. We are also able to offer some help with fees to parents on an ongoing basis.

We had a great concert at Christmas. It was so wonderful to be singing without Covid restrictions and we had an enthusiastic audience of over 300 people. We want to thank Creative Lives for their help, which has made a real difference to children and young people in our choir."