May 2000

As a part of BBC Music Live, the scheme appealed to people to donate working instruments, which were no longer being played

The Instrument Amnesty programme was devised by Youth Music and presented as a part of BBC Music Live. The scheme appealed to people to donate working instruments, which were no longer being played – from cellos to recorders and guitars to DJ turntables.

Youth Music distributed the donated instruments to local music services and community music groups across the UK and, where needed, provided grants to service or recondition donated instruments.

6000 instruments valuing over £1 million in total were donated by celebrities including David Bowie and Robbie Williams as well as the general public. These helped provide access to new learning opportunities for thousands of children and young people.

Celebrity donations included:

David Bowie – saxophone
The Corrs - bodhran
Craig David - microphone
Evelyn Glennie - cymbals
Jools Holland - keyboards
Mick Hucknall - guitar
Mick Jagger - synthesiser
Elton John - keyboards
Martin Kemp - guitar
George Martin – French horn
Brian May - guitar
Simon Rattle - guitar
Sting - guitar
Robbie Williams – acoustic guitar
Robert Wyatt set of tabla