The Honeytones have been very successful in bridging gaps in the public understanding and perception of the potential of the learning disabled. We have also proven to be a great source of inspiration to others seeking to improve their lives and become the best that they can be.

In so doing, we have become extremely popular locally and regionally. We have performed for many charities, organisations and groups, and also in Her Majesty's prisons. We have received a great deal of very positive feedback and below is an example, from an inmate at Dartmoor prison.

Dear  Bob,

Just to say thank you for the wonderful entertainment the Honeytones put on for us this afternoon. Your efforts were fully recognised and appreciated. Also we noticed your wife's total participation.

The band, well words almost fail me. I said to a few people after your performance that I had tears in my eyes. Tough men said "I ******* cried". One man cried as he has a brother with Downs.

Thank you and I look forward to a return visit.

THANKS TO YOU ALL

In the light of a huge amount of similar feedback from both prisoners and public, it is clear that the band has a very positive influence on it's audiences.

But we are just one band so we are limited in how much we can do and how many performances we can do each year. This is why we submitted a project to the Big Lottery Awards For All scheme earlier this year. I am delighted to say that the Big Lottery has decided to grant us the funding we asked for !!!

The aim of our project is to find an organisation that works with the learning disabled and who would like to form their own band. We will work with them, and after assessing their commitment to the project, we will identify their equipment needs and supply what is required from our funding.

The Honeytones will visit the group every month for the best part of a year in order to mentor them and give them plenty of opportunity to see us perform and to learn from us. Then in the Summer of 2012, an event called the Jacob Price Memorial Concert (in remembrance of our dear Jake) will be held in South Molton at which we will perform with our protégés a programme of their choice in front of an audience which will include Jacob's parents.

Hopefully we will end up with another band "on the road", providing entertainment and inspiration to the public, whilst also instilling confidence and self worth to the band members concerned.

                This is a picture of us  being filmed by ITV for the Peoples Millions contest in November 2008 :