The Music Enterprise Award is a step by step programme which guides and supports young people through fundraising to purchase their own set of pipes. The Award encourages pipers to raise funds in enterprising ways to buy their own set of pipes. In doing so, pipers learn helpful work and life skills such as teamwork, financial planning and recording, professional communications, finding and carrying out paid work.
Once a piper owns their own set of pipes they are set for a lifetime of music-making and enjoyment. Raising money through piping – whether busking or piping for paid gigs – can help fund future studies, as well as travels! Playing solo or in bands at events like Remembrance Day, switching on the Christmas lights, Galas and for community groups, also brings a lot of joy to people!
You can click each of the headings below to read more, and download your own copy by clicking here.
Pipers can take part in the Award if:
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Overall, pipers must raise £500 for an SSPDT set of pipes, or their target amount for their chosen set of pipes. To complete the award you must raise a minimum amount from certain tasks;
You must keep copies of your activities to show SSPDT what you have achieved. These can be in the form of photos, videos, posters, invoices, letters, etc (more information about collecting evidence is below). Once you have completed your fundraising and record keeping, you should submit all evidence to [email protected] If you don’t have a computer, you can hand-write documents like the invoice or letters, or design a poster by hand, and photograph them with a phone for evidence. We are interested in your knowledge, not the format.
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| MUST DO…
Raise at least £50 from one or more paid performances. |
How do I do this?
1) Research and list contact details for organisations in your area that might engage you, e.g. wedding organisations, churches, companies. Keep a copy of your list. 2) Get in touch with organisations in a clear, polite manner by email or letter outlining why you are fundraising, what you can offer as a performance, and your fee; keep copies of your emails or letters. If you are aged under 16 you must use your adult Guide’s email address, and borrow their telephone with their permission, to communicate with organisations. Keep sample copies of correspondence. 3) Carry out the performance on time and to a good standard; take photos or a video. 4) Create and send an invoice to the organisation. (If you are paid before you can issue an invoice, you should create an invoice anyway, so that we can see that you understand how to do this). Keep a copy. 5) Write a letter of thanks to the organiser; this must be laid out in a business-like way. Keep a copy. 6) Record your costs and income on your spreadsheet. Keep a copy. Samples of business letter layouts and invoices can be found on www.sspdt.org.uk
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MUST DO… Raise at least £75 (your portion) from one or more team fundraising activities. |
What do we mean by teamwork? A team is three or more school-aged young people; they can be from your own school, friends from outside school, and relatives. We expect you to have meetings to decide what to do, share out tasks, and carry them out together. You must discuss your plans with your adult Guide before going ahead. Examples of team activities might be a joint concert, sponsored activity, or jumble sale. If your team members are raising funds for other good causes, you must make this clear when publicising the event. Keep copies of your promotional materials such as posters, flyers, facebook posts (if you are 13 or older), and record your costs and income on your spreadsheet. Take photos and films. Ideas for fundraising activities can be found at www.sspdt.org.uk
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MUST DO … Busk solo or with friends at least once |
Busking is a great way to raise some funds. You don’t need a licence to busk in Scotland in a public place. You should ask permission to busk on private company premises such as outside a supermarket. There are some good ideas here about responsible busking. https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/licences-permits/busking Buskers often use an electronic card reader and QR code now, so that passers-by can tip you with their bank card, as well as giving cash donations. Some information about card readers for busking is here: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/news/a-guide-to-card-readers
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Keep financial records. |
SSPDT will want to see a copy of your financial records, showing income and expenditure, preferably on a spreadsheet like Excel or Numbers. Examples of financial records and invoices can be found on www.sspdt.org.uk
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Be clear with donors about what you are fundraising for
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You must be clear with donors about where their money is going. For example, you could display an obvious poster when busking/holding a stall etc., or state the purpose of your fundraising clearly in any letters or emails that you send as part of the Award. This also applies to group activities where the profits will be divided between Music Enterprise Awards/the pipe band/ other charities. The intended destination for every portion of the profit must be made obvious.
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MUST DO … If I raise more than my target sum |
If you raise more than your target, you must donate the excess to your pipe band or school. If you stop fundraising before you have reached your target, you must donate the funds you have raised to your band or school for piping activities. Let your school or band know, and they will tell you how to transfer the funds. |
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CAN DO … You could ask for gift money from family and friends towards your pipes, on special occasions such as your birthday, or celebrations like Christmas or Diwali, but no more than 1/5th or 20% of your total target. |
You could set up a GoFundMe or similar to collect and encourage gift donations. You must write a letter, email or message of thanks for each gift and keep copies.
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Pipers can raise £500 for a set of SSPDT bagpipes which will always be valued above £500
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pipers can fundraise for their chosen set of bagpipes. In this case, they will raise the full value of their target set of pipes.
By the end of the Award, pipers will understand how to and have practical experience of:
Each piper has an adult ‘Guide’ who is usually a parent or guardian, or sometimes a tutor. When the adult agrees to take on the role of ‘Guide’, they agree to supervise the piper’s activities, helping them to learn new skills (but never doing the tasks themselves!), and making sure that activities are planned and carried out with safety in mind.
The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust is also here to help. You can arrange a check in call with a member of the team at any time by emailing [email protected]
Keeping Safe
It is very important of course, that pipers taking part in the Award, stay safe and well. You and your adult Guide must read this policy, and consider safety carefully when planning your activities. Before you start the Award, SSPDT will ask you and your adult Guide to sign a Pledge, which outlines what we expect of you, including a commitment to paying attention to your safety and wellbeing. For more information please see SSPDT’s ‘Protection of Children and Young People’ Policy.
