Assisted Purchase when buying your own instrument

If you have regular lessons in school or twilight, take part in a Friday Flyers ensemble or a Saturday Morning Music Centre ensemble, you may be eligible for the Assisted purchase scheme, which saves having to pay VAT.

Please email: music@bedford.gov.uk for information on how to apply.

How the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme operates

AIPS enables parents of pupils that attend local authority schools to purchase a musical instrument through BBC/ Bedford Music Service without having to pay the VAT that would ordinarily be added to the purchase price. Parents will benefit from the scheme if the sale meets the criteria below. BBC/Bedford Music Service is able to reclaim the VAT on the purchase of musical instruments because the instruments are used for the provision of education. Academies and Free Schools may have their own scheme, please check with your school.

Criteria

To qualify for the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme, the following criteria must be met at the date of purchase of the instrument.

• The instrument or item must be sold to the local authority or school and then supplied onto the pupil or their guardian.

• The pupil must be receiving state education (see definition below).

• The instrument must be used as part of their musical tuition.

• The instrument must be appropriate to the pupil’s needs.

“State education” includes the following:

• Instrument lessons at a local authority school

• Instrument lessons with a BLMK Music Hub Partner organisation such as the Bedford Music Co-operative.

• Musical tuition in an ensemble run by a local authority school, Bedford Music Service’s Music Centre or by a BLMK Music Hub partner organisation such as the Bedford Music Co-operative.