BOLTON Music Service has been given £130,000 to help hundreds more children hit the right notes.

The service, which has just celebrated one of the highlights of its calendar — as more than 40 groups have entertained audiences over five nights at the Albert Halls for Bolton Music Centre Presents, has been handed the grant by Youth Music.

Bosses will now use the cash to offer 300 children from deprived areas the chance to make music with the creation of nine new choirs.

The money has been given to Bolton Music Service as part of its role in heading up the Greater Manchester Music Hub.

Carolyn Baxendale, head of Bolton Music Service said: “This is fantastic news for the Greater Manchester Music Hub – three of our hub partners have also been successful in securing Youth Music funding. This means that children from all nine local authority areas of the hub will now benefit from the musical activity which results from this grant. We are delighted and are looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.”

Youth Music, which is the leading UK charity supporting life-changing music experiences and learning for children and young people, has given grants of £319,000 to music projects across the North West.

Matt Griffiths, Youth Music’s executive director, said: “We are delighted to support Bolton Music Services along with all the other organisations that are doing such great work to support young people in the North West.

“We know that music captures the imagination of children and young people in a way that other learning often doesn’t and the benefits of their participation go way beyond developing musical skills.

“These benefits can include greater social and team working skills as well as enhanced self-esteem.

“We wish all these organisations every success with their very worthwhile projects.”