Appeal for new violin case for homeless musician

Matt Wood has always had a passion for music and plays his violin every day in Northampton's town centre

A charity has launched an appeal for donations to help a homeless musician replace his violin case.

Matt Wood, 48, has been playing the violin since he was 11 years old and was a familiar face in Northampton town centre, where he regularly performed.

The charity Change, Grow, Live posted an online request, asking for public donations to provide Mr Wood with a new "generic" adult violin case, after his current one became too damaged to use.

Mr Wood said his current case is "pretty knackered" and receiving a new case "would mean everything" to him.

Mr Wood's violin case was looking a little worse for wear after years of use

Over the years, Mr Wood has mastered several instruments, and taught himself how to play the piano, harmonica, penny-whistle, and guitar.

Despite his versatility, he said the violin was his favourite instrument, with classical and folk music being his preferred genres to play.

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His current violin, gifted by a "generous" person two years ago at Christmas, was also starting to show signs of wear.

“It hasn’t got a shoulder rest, the fine tuners are all knackered, and the strings are nearly gone,” Mr Wood explained.

Sean Tracey, an outreach worker from the charity Change, Grow, Live, said he "put an ad on a local neighbourhood app" and was "hopeful" the public would respond with a donation for a new case.

Mr Wood added that receiving a new case would be "fantastic".

Matt Wood hoped someone would donate a new violin case to preserve his instrument