Edsential’s contract to deliver music services across Cheshire West and Chester and Wirral has now ended. This follows the end of our partnership agreement with the Love Music Trust (LMT) and withdrawal of associated Arts Council England (ACE) grant funding.

Who holds the funding for music provision?

As the Hub Lead Organisation, Love Music Trust are in receipt of over £900,000 Revenue Grant and £300,000 Capital Grant for Music Delivery across Cheshire West and Wirral for 2025-26.

Love Music Trust have started to share how some of this funding will be distributed.

I am a school – how do I access funding? 

Schools can apply directly for over £200,000 of this funding via the Cheshire & Wirral Music Hub (CWMH) website here.

Primary Schools can apply for funding to deliver First Access and Progression. Secondary and Special Schools can apply for a grant of £1,000 to deliver Musical Activity.

How will other areas of Music be funded? 

Love Music Trust have not yet confirmed details for how they will allocate the rest of the ACE grant, including funding for music centres, bursaries, the music lead programme, CPD, or instruments. Please contact Love Music Trust directly for more information.

How do I keep my Edsential Music Tutor?

We are doing all we can to support our Edsential Music Tutors at this time, and on behalf of our dedicated staff are pleased to announce the Cheshire West and Wirral Music Co-operative.

Created by your former Edsential music staff, this brand-new venture joins a network of successful Music Co-operatives across the country and is focussed on ensuring the continuation of Music Education with the talented and creative Edsential Music Staff you trust.

Edsential is helping staff to set up this Co-operative and wish to signpost as many schools and parents as possible to this exciting new initiative.

Please email info@cwwm.org.uk to enquire about the continuation of music provision for your school or child.

Please note, the new Co-operative is still in development and any Edsential tutors will be working on an independent basis until the launch date. Email the Co-op for more details.

We hope you will join us in supporting Cheshire West and Wirral Music Co-operative on this new musical journey. Alternatively, Tutors can be found on the CWMH Tutor Directory here.

How do we access instruments?

Any instruments currently out with schools and parents can be kept until the end of the Autumn term, at no charge. We are working closely with the Local Authority and Music Co-operative to ensure a longer-term solution whereby young people in the community continue to benefit from them.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.