Henley Lions presented a cheque for £1,000 at last night’s business meeting to Laura Reineke of the Henley Music School (HMS). Laura attended our October meeting and gave a presentation about the work of the HMS. The club then voted to donate £1,000 to this very worthy cause. Laura explained to the club that HMS was started 13 years ago and is now a Community Interest Company hoping to achieve charitable status in 2018. It provides bursaries, music lessons and tutors for schools and individuals and includes free loan of instruments. Ages range from 3 to 18 years and 350 children in the Henley area are currently signed up. Children from less wealthy families are often taught free of charge. HMS has previously received funding from Olivia Harrison, Henley Rotary, Invesco, the Town Council and Henley Education Trust and has had fund raising events including dinner dances and concerts. Laura has approached Henley Symphony Orchestra to suggest a partnership. She needs £50,000 per annum to operate and is currently running the company alone. Although she could do with admin and accounting help, her request to Lions was for funding. The club was very pleased to be able to help Laura and the 350 local children that benefit from the work of the HMS.