Giving guitars to charity

Shmoo

Hi all. I currently have a number of guitars in storage that don't see use. Some of the lower/ midrange ones I'm thinking to give away, to allow someone without previous access to guitars to be able to play - be it students, military veterans, those down on their luck etc. Does anyone know of any charity or place to approach or donate to. Many thanks.

xscaramanga

I do some teaching for a charity called Hope Creative in Bristol that gives music lessons to children and young people in care. I'm pretty sure they'd take them. I can put you in touch if you want.

GSPBASSES

It's a great idea giving surplus equipment to charities, but make sure it's the right type of charity. Every year I make a few guitars from surplus stock and give them to Chickenshed, who are a theatre charity but also a college of performing arts. I have mentioned them before on the fretboard. When the Covid shutdown is over they will be starting up there Saturday morning music lessons again for all abilities but mainly youngsters, who do not have their own musical instruments. The teachers who run these courses give their time for free. Most of the youngsters who come in will not have a musical instrument so I gladly give them a few guitars each year. My experience has always been when a youngster is trying to learn guitar it needs to be a fairly good one, not necessarily a custom shop Les Paul or Strat, any guitar that is set up well, a nice size neck for a youngster. 

https://www.chickenshed.org.uk

thecolourbox

A lovely gesture.

Sounds like something that @Legionreturns may be interested in or can advise on as his "you bring the band" thing works with kids who might not get the chance to otherwise?

Jalapeno

Billy Bragg used to do the Jail Guitar Doors thing - acoustics for prisioners - looks like it's defunct now ....

GuyR

There is a chap on Basschat called uselessamateur who refurbishes guitars and donates them to the joe strummer foundation- they go to schools and other appropriate causes. I sent him a bass a few weeks ago. I can put you in touch if you like

Funkfingers

GSPBASSES said:

make sure it's the right type of charity … music lessons … for all abilities but mainly youngsters, who do not have their own musical instruments. The teachers who run these courses give their time for free.

A friend of mine does exactly this sort of thing for the local branch of MIND. One of her duties is to be part of the team that take the instruments to institutions so that the residents can enjoy some music therapy.

Some of the equipment is purchased brand new with an appropriate education sector discount. Some is donated. I forget what paperwork is necessary to account for the monetary/replacement value of donated items.

Legionreturns

thecolourbox said:

A lovely gesture.

Sounds like something that @Legionreturns may be interested in or can advise on as his "you bring the band" thing works with kids who might not get the chance to otherwise?

Thanks for the mention! 

I am currently working with 8 different kids in care, none of which have their own instruments, so I often lend out some of the cheaper ones from my fleet. I really wish I could donate them permanently, but I'm afraid I just don't make enough from what I do to cover the cost.