When Lions Youth Brass, based in Sandbach, gained second place in the National Youth Brass Band Championships earlier this year they also qualified to represent the UK at the European Youth Brass Band Championships at Montreux in 2019. Before then the band will need to raise £25,000 to send 50 young people and their tutors to Switzerland.

The Rotary Club of Sandbach and Lions Youth Brass have had a good relationship for a number of years. Each summer the Rotary Club organises a concert where the Band plays at the end of their summer concert tour. The funds raised at these concerts have supported many local charities and Rotary projects. This year the £1200 proceeds of the concert have been given to the Band to help with their expenses for Montreux. Added to that the Club were very pleased to obtain a District matching grant of £1000.

The cheque was handed over to Nigel Birch, Director of Lions Youth Brass, at a recent rehearsal of the band at Sandbach School by Rotarian Keith Ludlam. Rtn Ludlam said, "We are delighted that Lions Youth Brass have qualified as UK representatives at the European Championships and the Rotary Club of Sandbach is pleased to be able to support them in this way."