IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) helps Manchester musician out of his debt problems

Manchester musician and composer Vini Reilly is set to re-launch his career with the release of a new album - thanks to the timely intervention of his accountants.

Real-life blues, in the form of major financial problems, overcame the well-known former member of The Durutti Column, until he was rescued by Manchester Chartered Accountants and Insolvency Practitioners Clarke Bell.

With mounting debts and legal problems over royalty income from previous recordings, Vini was on the verge of bankruptcy and the loss of his home.

Fortunately, he sought expert advice from Clarke Bell, who quickly set up an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) with his creditors and averted a crisis. Help was also provided by the Musicians' Union, who organised a grant from their Benevolent Fund.

"I feel like I've woken up from a nightmare," said Vini Reilly. "My job is to make music, but with the sort of financial worries I had it was almost impossible.

"Thanks to Clarke Bell and the Musicians Union, I've been able to get back to what I do best, writing and recording, and my new album 'Rebellion' will be released on June 18th on the Artful label.

"We were very pleased to be able to help Vini", added Bill Kerr of the Musicians' Union. "Not many people realise how precarious a living it is for most musicians, and with few benefits to fall back on they can hit hard times very easily.

The Benevolent Fund was set up for that purpose and it's been put to good use here with Clarke Bell's help.

The financial dangers lurking in the entertainment business were confirmed by John Bell, senior partner at Clarke Bell.

"Artists like Vini are self-employed and consequently vulnerable to the problem of regular expenditure with irregular income," he commented.

"If they're in any sort of difficulty, the sooner they seek expert help the better".