The national music making initiative – Come and Play, for children aged 4-14 years attending out of school clubs and holiday play schemes, is run by 4Children with support from Youth Music. The successful programme has transformed the lives of thousands of children, especially those in disadvantaged areas, giving them the chance to become involved in music in a way which engages and includes them, developing their self esteem and creativity and engendering teamwork.

The resource pack will enable and galvanise playworkers to develop creative, active workshops of fun, informative and entertaining music activities for children in the clubs. The pack features three booklets covering the different stages of music development (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) along with help notes, ideas for sessions and is accompanied by an Audio CD and a CD-Rom to aid development. The booklets provide a step by step programme for the playworkers directing the workshops and helping them to facilitate fun music sessions. Through the pack, Come and Play can reach even more clubs and more importantly – even more children.

“The resource pack is a fantastic music tool for clubs throughout the country to use in their workshops. Playworkers, who have had little or no previous experience of facilitating music making for children, will be taken step by step through the activities which will ultimately give more children a chance to experience music out of school hours”, said Anne Longfield, Chief Executive at 4Children.

Christina Coker, Chief Executive at Youth Music said, “Youth Music has watched the Come and Play programme develop and flourish since its launch in Spring 2003. The recently published resource pack will be an invaluable tool for all playworkers involved in running out of school clubs and holiday play schemes, enabling them to facilitate fun music sessions, alongside supporting professional music leaders. We look forward to seeing the creative results that this resource will generate for years to come”.

Jazz saxophonist, Leo Green pledged his support for the Come and Play programme and resource pack and said, “I was lucky enough to have music readily available to me as a child. The benefits of music being accessible to children are incalculable. Music has enabled me to travel the world, meet all kinds of people and experience things I would never normally have been able to do. I think it is brilliant that this extraordinary scheme by 4Children, which is now enhanced by the resource pack, is now giving children the same opportunities to enrich their lives through music”.

For further information please contact the Media Team at 4Children on 020 7512 2112

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