Winchester City Council has allocated a grant of £3000 to enable the Winnall Rock School to move to a new permanent base at the King Alfred Youth Activity Centre.

Winnall Rock School was founded six years ago by local families who couldn’t afford music lessons for their children. It provides free weekly music lessons for 10–18 year olds with support from Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council, and Youth Music. Led by gifted musician Chris Redmond, the Rock School is run by volunteers from across the county.

Announcing the award, Cllr John Cooper, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities said: “For the last two years the Rock School has relied on the generosity of the staff and governors at Winnall Primary School who have provided space and facilities for the group. I have been looking at ways to help Winnall Rock School find a permanent home with more space for their activities. KAYAC also receives an annual grant from the City Council and, as it is at the heart of the Winnall Community, it makes perfect sense to bring the two together”.

He added: “I have to thank Cllr Chris Pines for helping me to take this project forward. I know he is a huge fan of the Rock School and he has secured a donation from the Henry Smith Charity so that our joint funding can pay for the modifications needed to create a dedicated music studio in the KAYAC building”.

Paul Pounsford, Head of The Winnall Rock School Management Committee, is delighted at the prospect of a move early in the new year. He said: ”We desperately need more space and this studio will be a fantastic venue for young people who want to express themselves through music and learn new skills”

He added: “We are grateful to Winchester City Council and the Henry Smith Charity for finding a way to solve our accommodation problems. The Rock School will now be able to work closely with KAYAC staff to develop new music based interests for Winchester’s young people”.