JG Windows has joined the Arts Council's Take it away initiative that aims to make musical instruments and music lessons more easily affordable for everyone.

The scheme allows individuals, aged 25 or under, to apply for a loan of up to £2000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free.

JG Windows is one of a number of retailers around the country that passed rigorous checks in order to be involved, demonstrating high levels of customer care in helping customers choose the right instrument for their needs.

Whether you’re looking to play the piano, the guitar, the saxophone or the double bass, all instruments are included in the scheme and are encouraged by Arts Council England.

The initiative is open to everyone over the age of 18.

What can I buy?

You can use Take it away to finance the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, whether new or reconditioned. It can also include music stands, stools, sheet music, amplifiers, equipment and accessories as part of your loan.

But recorded music, PA systems and computer hardware are not eligible to purchase under the scheme.

How do I Take it away?

In Store

First, visit JG Windows and choose an instrument. If you need advice, the staff in the store will be able to give you help in selecting the right instrument for your needs.

Once you've made your decision, you can apply for a Take it away loan to finance your purchase. You will need to bring a credit or debit card with you in order to pay the 10% deposit. The application process takes no more than a few minutes and, if approved, you can take your purchase away with you there and then.

To apply for a loan you need to be:

• Either Aged between 18 & 25 years old *
• Or over 18 years of age and buying an instrument for a child under the age of 18
  
• A permanent UK resident
• Working at least 16 hours per week
  
• Hold a bank or building society account capable of handling direct debit payments
  

* Window's also offers other finance options including including "Buy Now, Pay in 6 or 12 months", which is available to anyone over the age of 18.  Please contact us for more information.

On-Line

At the present time, it is not possible to process the entire Take it away agreement electronically on-line.

However, if you are unable to visit the store to apply for the loan, we can complete most of the application over the telephone.  This takes very little time and once approved, we then take a deposit and post you the forms to sign.  We would then send the goods out to you, 2 weeks after the original application was approved on the telephone, (which is likely to be about 1 week after you have returned the signed forms to us).

To make an application, or for more information, please either telephone us on  

0191 2321356

 or send an email to

info@jgwindows.com

 including your name, address and daytime telephone number and we will contact you as soon as possible to organise the application. 

How much can I borrow?

Loans are available up to £2000, or as little as £100. The loan amount can be a part-payment towards an item that costs more than £2000, or you can buy several lower value items with a combined value of up to £2000 or more. You will need to pay a minimum 10% of the loan amount at the point of sale. The rest is then paid back over nine months in equal instalments. There is no administrative charge or handling fee when you take out the loan, so you will never be paying more for your purchase than the ticket price.

Information:

Take it away is an Arts Council England initiative that offers an interest free loan (0% APR) between £100 and £2000 for people to buy musical instruments, supporting musical equipment and tuition, through a network of participating retailers across England. The loan is repayable in 10 parts, made up of a minimum 10 per cent deposit and nine monthly instalments.

The Take it away scheme is operated by ArtCo Trading Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Arts Council England) in conjunction with the Musical Instrument Finance Company (MIFCO). The scheme is being promoted by Arts Council England in partnership with the Music Industries Association (MIA).  

1. Arts Council England works to get great art to more people in more places. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm's length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, we will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. We believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.

• Taking part in the arts
• Children and young people
• The creative economy
• Vibrant communities
• Internationalism
• Celebrating diversity