Youth Music - funding for music-making projects

Youth Music is a national charity investing in music-making projects for children and young people (aged 0-25) experiencing challenging circumstances.

The funding invests in music programmes for children and young people, and work that helps organisations to diversify and be more inclusive. Programmes funded by Youth Music work with children and young people of all ages, from babies and their families through to young adults up to the age of 25, using the power of music to support musical, personal and social development.

Youth Music’s grants programme is made up of separate funds:

Fund A
Grants of between £2,000 and £30,000 for high-quality projects that will help to achieve a musically inclusive England. Projects should last for 6-24 months and it's a one-stage online application process with deadlines three times a year.

Fund B
Grants of £30,001 to £150,000 (or up to £200,000 in rare circumstances and with permission from the Youth Music team) are available and the fund is designed to support:

Music-making and music-making related activities for children and young people (aged 0-25) facing barriers,
and/or

Workforce and organisational development to promote a relevant, diverse, and inclusive music offer for all children and young people.

Projects should last between 18 and 48 months and it is a two-stage online application process with three deadlines a year.

Fund C
Awards larger grants of up to £160,000 per year for projects with a dual role of delivery and strategic work; expanding and embedding high quality, inclusive music-making. Currently closed to applications, information about the next funding round will be released in 2021.

Incubator Fund
Grants of £5,000 to £30,000 are available to businesses, collectives, and not-for-profits working in the music industries. The fund is designed to help open up access to sustainable careers in music for people aged 18-25, particularly those who are underrepresented; and to support creative employers to innovate and incubate new and diverse talent.

See the Youth Music website for details on funding deadlines as they vary for each Fund

For more information visit https://network.youthmusic.org.uk/i-need-funding