Loan sounds the right note (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Loan sounds the right note

8:49am Thursday 21st February 2008 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

A SAXAPHONE of her own has sounded the right note for a Tewkesbury teenager.

Jodie Griffin, 17, used music and the saxophone in particular to fight the depression she suffered from being bullied at school.

"The saxophone helped me with my mood. I'd just get lost in the music and it cheered me up because it was something I could do better than anyone else'" she said The instrument she used was hired from school, and when she left in year 10 to take her GCSEs from home it had to be returned.

There was no way she could afford the £450 a new one would cost, and thought her saxophone playing days were over.

Now she is the proud owner of a brand new one, thanks to the Arts Council's Take It Away scheme.

The scheme provides interest free loans that allow people to buy an instrument and pay back the cost in nine monthly instalments.

Jodie hopes to use her love of music to help her career - she wants to work with children with learning disabilities and behavioural problems.

Arts Council spokesman Nick Capaldi said: "Jodie is a brilliant example of how Take It Away can help musicians of all ages and backgrounds.

"There are a lot of talented people out there who are being put off learning how to play an instrument because of the costs involved"

Details of the Take It Away scheme are available on www.takeitaway.org.uk.