SOLD OUT - VIP Ticket - Groove Armada DJ Set Exclusive: Once in a Lifetime: Turntable histories 1995-2011 Saturday 28th January

38 years ago, John Ellis decided to keep open his classroom on wednesday nights for any kids who wanted to come and learn to play jazz and blues. In the middle of a small, poverty stricken South Yorkshire village, it was an unlikely project.

But these wednesdays nights went on to transform thousands of peoples' lives, and create successive generations of the best UK musicians. In an area of high unemployment and, often, a lack of hope, it stands as an example of what's possible, and how much talent is normally allowed to go to waste.

Within a few years, John had put together a young band of such quality that they were touring Russia, Europe, and , soon after I joined, the USA alongside the Count Basie Band and Stan Kenton. John got successive generations of kids to play so well that they were banned from entering the national youth music competition at the Festival Hall because they won it every time.

The years passed, and many thousands of youngsters went through this system, leaving it with both a love of music, and the special confidence that comes with having done something to the highest level.

Many former members took it all the way; you'll find them heading up the BBC big band, at Ronnie Scotts, on stage with Faithless, being the taller half of Groove Armada...

A volunteer staff joined with John to create a network that allowed all the teaching, rehearsing and touring to benefit as many youngsters as possible, for as little as possible. But now, 38 years later, the organisation is to be closed down. Under recent austerity measures, there will be no further funding from 2012 onwards.

The financial madness of this is clear. Removing hope from thousands of youngsters with little else comes at a high price later on. Culturally, it's hard to see how you justify taking an axe to an organisation which has created some of the UK's highest musical excellence for so long, for so little.

During a time when a lot of good causes are suffering from government cuts, it's often said that it's not worth saving one because you can't save them all.

Well, if we can save this one, then it will have a direct impact on the lives of thousands, the future of UK music, and it will stand as an example of what youth is capable of when given a chance.