Our story
What is Take it away?
Take it away is a programme founded to inspire and empower people to make music.
We do this by enabling them to own their own instrument – or pay for tuition, equipment and software – with interest free finance. Whatever it is that people need to start making music, or take their music making to the next level, we’ll help them own it. We aim to help people take possession of their musical interest, passion, skill and journey by taking possession of an instrument.
We work with music retailers to make this happen – for parents, for students, for those with specific needs… anyone. And more inspired, empowered people mean more customers and business through retailers’ doors, to help keep music shops on the high street. Since launching in 2007, we’ve helped over 95,000 people buy instruments through interest-free loans. Our focus is on inclusivity. Our spirit is possibility. Our promise is opportunity.
We make making music possible for the many, not the few.
Who are Creative United?
Take it away is operated by Creative United, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, funded by Arts Council England.
Creative United provides a range of financial products and services designed to enable the growth and development of the UK’s cultural and creative industries.
Our mission is to build a sustainable and resilient creative economy, making the arts accessible for all. The communities that we serve include creative businesses (including individual artists and creative practitioners), charitable and social enterprises, and other organisations operating within the wider arts and creative industries.
Our story around inclusive access
The Take it away scheme was established in 2007 to help address the financial barriers that exist around access to music making. We know that for many people the upfront cost of a quality musical instrument can be prohibitive. We also know that people with physical impairments or differences frequently face additional challenges when it comes to finding and financing the musical instruments and equipment that need and want to develop as musicians.
That’s why Take it away is committed to helping people to discover the increasingly diverse and growing range of adapted instruments, assistive equipment and music technology that have been designed with accessibility in mind, and re-defining the ways in which both disabled and non-disabled players are developing their skills and practice as contemporary musicians.
