Grants of between £2,000 and £30,000 are available over 2 years for constituted UK organisations for projects that encourage children and young people aged under 25 to make, learn and earn in music.
The following funding is available:
- For organisations that are less than 12 months’ old, grants of between £2,000 and £15,000, or
- For organisations that are more than 12 months’ old, grants of between £2,000 and £30,000.
Projects must meet one or more of the following themes:
Early Years - for children aged 0–5 who face barriers to accessing music-making because of their circumstances or where they live. Youth Music encourages applications that promote:
- Access to quality, creative musical experiences that support children’s developmental needs.
- Shared learning between early years specialists, music specialists and parents, so that all become skilled, confident, and engaged in encouraging young children’s musicality, and
- Workforce diversification.
Disabled, d/Deaf and Neuro-divergent Young People - for young people aged 0–25 that:
- Ensure that they have equitable access to progress in music in a way that meets their needs and aspirations, and
- Provide routes for Disabled young people into the workforce.
Youth Justice System - for children and young people aged 0-25 who are, have been, or are at risk of being involved with the youth justice system. Youth Music encourages applications that:
- Are youth-led and offer culturally relevant and engaging music programmes that promote personal and social outcomes alongside musical development, and
- Work in partnership with other organisations and agencies to support safeguarding and progression and ensure that young people’s needs are met.
Young People Facing Barriers - for children and young people aged 0–25 who face barriers to music-making due to their characteristics or life circumstances, or because of where they live. Youth Music encourages application that:
- Are youth-led and offer culturally relevant and engaging music programmes that promote personal and social outcomes alongside musical development, and
- Work in partnership with other organisations and agencies to reach young people facing barriers and ensure that their needs are met.
Young Adults - for young adults aged 16-25 who want to take their music further, or for whom music can support wider personal and social outcomes. Youth Music encourages applications that:
- Improve young people’s confidence, skills, social networks, and emotional wellbeing as well as providing specific mentoring, networking, and industry opportunities, and
- Increase and enhance engagement with employment, education, and training.
Organisations and the Workforce - work that benefits the people and organisations who provide inclusive musicmaking opportunities for children and young people aged 0-25. Youth Music encourages applications that:
- Enable organisations to be innovative, resilient, and inclusive.
- Develop a diverse workforce that is networked, and skilled in inclusive practice with children and young people.
The Trailblazers’ Fund particularly wants to support applications from:
- Established organisations that want to test a new way of working or disrupt the status quo.
- Small organisations who support children and young people to make, learn or earn in music, and
- Those who work with children and young people facing barriers who want to trial a new music offer.
Further information, guidance and details about how to apply is available on the Youth Music website. The deadline for applications to Round 9 of the programme for projects starting between September and November 2025 is Friday 11 April 2025 at 5pm.