As part of his visit to Lincolnshire Music Development Agency soundLINCS last week, the musician and TV personality Richard Stilgoe OBE joined in a lively music-making session at a pre-school in North Hykeham, just outside Lincoln.

The visit was part of Mr Stilgoe’s nationwide tour of Youth Music Action Zones (YMAZs), which he is undertaking in his capacity as the new Chairman of national charity Youth Music. He was delighted to be invited to take part in a ‘First Notes’ music workshop at North Hykeham’s St Nicholas Day Nursery, which is one of a diversity of sound52 projects managed by soundLINCS across Lincolnshire.

Accompanying Mr Stilgoe on his visit was Youth Music Regional Coordinator Heloise Davies, together with soundLINCS Chief Executive Nikki-Kate Heyes. The workshop was followed by an informal reception at soundLINCS offices on St Martin’s Lane in Lincoln, where the party was joined by soundLINCS staff, representatives from Lincolnshire County Council plus other funders and supporters.

Richard Stilgoe has been involved with Youth Music since its inception in 1999 and used the trip to Lincolnshire to find out about the pivotal role played by soundLINCS in developing music-making opportunities for Lincolnshire young people. Speaking to the gathering, he referred to sound52 as a ‘Model YMAZ’, and stressed the social and educational benefits of encouraging participation in music-based activities from an early age.

Through sound52, Youth Music has invested £1.25m in Lincolnshire since 2003, with the latest funding bid expected to secure the project’s future until at least 2010.

sound52 is one of 24 Youth Music Action Zones in England and Wales providing music-making activities for young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. In addition to Youth Music, principal funders include Arts Council England (East Midlands) and Lincolnshire County Council, with other contributors to the project including the county’s seven district councils, six Arts Centres, Birth to 5 Service, Children’s Links and the PLA.

For more information visit www.soundlincs.org