YodelDirect to play driving role in James Rhodes’ Don’t Stop the Music Instrument Amnesty
YodelDirect from Yodel, the UK’s leading independent parcel carrier, is giving its support to concert pianist James Rhodes’ and his Instrument Amnesty, which will be launched to coincide with the Don’t Stop the Music series, which airs on Channel 4 from tonight (9 September).
The consumer parcel collection and delivery service has been selected as the official parcel carrier for the initiative, which aims to provide much-needed musical instruments to selected primary schools across the country from Surrey to Stockport; Newport to Newcastle.
The scheme, and two part television series, is fronted by internationally-renowned classical pianist James Rhodes who believes that music has a huge role to play in helping children to develop and learn creatively. With the help of Channel 4, he is launching the UK's biggest ever 'instrument amnesty', inviting viewers to donate their unused musical instruments to Oxfam stores so that they can be redistributed and put to use in primary schools across the country.
The donated instruments will be collected by Yodel's YodelDirect service from 700 Oxfam shops nationwide, and taken to a central sorting facility where they will be refurbished. Yodel's drivers will then deliver the instruments to 150 primary schools which have registered to take part in the scheme.
James Rhodes said: "Music saved my life. It's that powerful. Young children have a hunger and thirst to learn music and we must give every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. I believe the 'Instrument Amnesty' can help to achieve that for thousands of kids up and down the country. With the amazing support of partners like Yodel's YodelDirect service we can do something brilliant, long lasting and life affirming."
Yodel already has an established link with education, delivering millions of parcels of educational materials to schools, colleges and students each year.
Dick Stead, executive chairman of Yodel, said: "Every parcel we deliver is important to its recipient and that is especially the case with this initiative. Giving the gift of music can turn a life around and we are immensely proud to be a part of this wonderful opportunity."
The Don't Stop the Music Instrument Amnesty will run from 8 September to 17 October and further details can be found at www.dontstopthemusic.co.uk . The first episode of the series will be broadcast on 9 September on Channel 4 at 9pm.