Come and Play is the national music making initiative devised and delivered by 4Children and funded by Youth Music for out of school clubs and holiday playschemes.

The programme creates opportunities for children aged 4-14 to develop new skills through innovative and fun music workshops, led by experienced professional musicians. Come and Play also provides practical activity-based and on-the-job training for Playworkers, providing them with the confidence and skills to lead music activities after the programme.

Delivered through local authority early years and childcare services, the programme creates networks of music activity on both local and national levels, uniting the out of school and community music sectors.

Launched nationally in March 2003, Come and Play has been a huge success to date, involving 46 areas of England and is on target to reach 11,000 children and young people by the end of 2005.

4Children

4Children is dedicated to the care, education and personal development of children. 4Children aspires to ensure that all children, young people and families have access to a creative, safe and child focused environment, and activities. For more information on 4Children visit our website www.4Children.org.uk. For more information on childcare in your area call our helpline on 020 7512 2100.

Youth Music

Youth Music provides music-making opportunities for children and young people up to the age of 18 who mainly live in areas of social and economic need, targeting those who would otherwise not have the opportunity.

Youth Music was set up in 1999 with £30m of Lottery funding, delivered through Arts Council England. This work was endorsed in July 2001 by a further £40m to allow Youth Music to continue its work until 2006. By the end of 2010 Youth Music aims to have reached more than 2.1 million children and young people and their wider communities.

For more information visit  www.youthmusic.org.uk