Acclaimed singer-songwriter Charlotte Brimner – also known as Be Charlotte - was in Glasgow today (Tuesday 6 March) to launch a Musical Instrument Amnesty as part of this year’s Pass it on Week (10 to 18 March 2018) organised by Zero Waste Scotland.

The Dundee-born music star, who has picked up awards including BBC Introducing 'Ones to Watch' 2016, Best Electronic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards and played to packed crowds at Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival in the summer, took to Glasgow’s city centre to encourage anyone who might have a good quality musical instrument that they no longer use to pass it on so that someone else can enjoy the gift of music. People who would like to donate an instrument can drop them into collection points all over Scotland – they can find their nearest by visiting: www.recycleforscotland.com/instrument-amnesty-collection-points

Charlotte took to Buchanan Street for an impromptu session where she entertained fans and passers-by alike.

She said: "I previously donated an old acoustic guitar to someone my mum works with. She runs a charity organisation encouraging people get involved in creativity and it's amazing to see the impact that the guitar has had on someone's life.  That person is now gigging regularly and writing their own music, as well as learning to play some of his favourite songs. I feel that it is important that everyone has the opportunity to make music, even if it's just for fun.

“My first instrument was violin, but I wasn't very good at it! It's quite a difficult instrument to be around when someone is not very good at it...so we traded it for a guitar and I've never looked back really. The fact I was able to get a second hand guitar, and write music and discover more about myself as a person through writing, it really helped me to grow from childhood into being a young adult. The fact that I now get to tour in other countries is partly down to the fact I was able to pick up a guitar when I was 13 years old.

“I want to be able to help other kids to experience the happiness that music making can offer.  I'm proud to help celebrate the launch of Zero Waste Scotland’s instrument amnesty and would encourage anyone who has instruments gathering dust, to give those instruments a purpose and put them within reach of people who will cherish them. Music is for everyone, so let’s make sure we make the best use of all the instruments that are available to people.”

Annually, Pass it on Week action aims to showcase re-use as a quality, attractive alternative to new – and offers Scots the chance to help others and the environment by keeping things in use.

This year, more than 50 local music organisations and charities from across Scotland have come forward to be local beneficiaries of the Musical Instrument Amnesty and will act as collection points for people to drop off instruments. There’s still time to sign up your organisation here: www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/passonthemusic.

Andrew Pankhurst, Zero Waste Scotland’s Re-use Campaigns Manager and himself a keen musician, said:

“It’s really exciting to be able to turn our annual focus on re-use towards music this year, and unleash the untapped potential of all the unplayed instruments out there, so it’s amazing to have such a talented young musician like Be Charlotte leading the call for people across Scotland to pass things on. And of course, the instrument amnesty is only one element of Pass it on Week, and one way of getting across the message that any items you no longer use can still have a useful life with someone else, so if you don’t use something, why not pass it on this week, and help keep stuff in use for longer.”

In addition to the Musical Instrument Amnesty, Pass it on Week will see people across Scotland swapping, donating, sharing and repairing to help make things last. Share your Pass it on Week story on social media using the #PassItOnWeek hashtag.

To find out ways you can get involved, visit: www.passitonweek.com