Inverclyde Music Festival faces £12,000 funding gap

Isabel Lind, president of the Inverclyde Music Festival, says she'd be "devastated" if the event can't raise the £12,000 it needs to make it into its 98th year.

She told the Telegraph the money has to be raised by the end of October - but says that work is already under way on bringing in the cash needed to keep it going.

The festival gives more than 1,000 young people a platform to showcase their skills each year.

Isabel Lind says she would be "devastated" if the Inverclyde Music Festival is unable to raise the funds it needs. (Image: George Munro) Isabel says it costs £26,000 to run the popular two-week event, which she described as "an institution in Inverclyde" - and insisted that the show must go on.

She told the Tele: "Each year costs are going up. It costs £7,000 to hire the town hall and to pay adjudicators' fees, accommodation and accompanists' fees.

"We also use the Beacon, who give us technological support with drumming and electric guitars.

"Because we are an area of deprivation in some ways, we try to keep the ticket prices down.

"Other festivals organisers in Scotland laugh at how low our prices are. We try to keep it to £4.50/£5, although we had to put the price up slightly this year.

"We do get a grant from Inverclyde Council, but it doesn't cover the cost of the hire of the town hall."

Mrs Lind also stressed that most of the people who work at the festival are volunteers, including herself.

The festival is facing a £12,000 funding gap - and the money has to be raised by the end of October. (Image: George Munro)

The festival programme features sections for singing, speech, instruments and dance, and classes celebrating Scottish culture, including piping, Scots song and speech, and country dancing.

Mrs Lind said: "The festival is wonderful. It is an institution in Inverclyde.

"The festival is acclaimed throughout Britain because we have such wonderful back-up from schools, both secondary and primary, in Inverclyde. That doesn't happen anywhere else.

"It's almost embedded in the curriculum. Last year we welcomed New Scots, Nigerians opened the final concert, and we are hoping to welcome Afghans and Ukrainians next year."

She also hopes to introduce the work of local author John Galt to the festival.

Mrs Lind, who is heavily involved in many community organisations, said she would be devastated if the festival didn't go on.

She said: "It would be the end of an institution. It would be terrible.

The festival has been an Inverclyde institution for the last 97 years. (Image: George Munro)

"I remember vividly when I took part, as so many others do, when I was at Greenock High School. It's part of growing up in this area.

"I've learned so many important things over the years. It would leave a huge cultural gap in Inverclyde.

"Of all the things I do, the festival is my favourite. It impacts on so many people.

"I would be devastated if it didn't go ahead and we're are looking to our 100th anniversary."

 If any business or individual can offer help, they can visit inverclyde-music-festival.org.uk and click on the 'Support Us' option.