Summary
Youth Music is looking for funders to co-invest in stabilising the grassroots youth music sector.
Aims and activities
Aims and questions
Aims and activities
The grassroots youth music sector is in crisis. 41% of Youth Music’s funded partners have reported risk of closure and currently only 17% of applications to us for funding are successful due to such high demand. This is unprecedented in our 25-year history.
Our Rescue the Roots campaign aims to address this by securing £1m in 2025-26, which Youth Music will match fund from our reserves with an additional £1m. This will be quickly distributed to youth organisations and provide crucial support for over 18,000 young people.
We are seeking funders and philanthropists to co-invest in the initial phase of the fundraising campaign where we will match their funding pound for pound.
Youth Music is the leading young people and music charity in the UK, with a 25-year track record in equalising access to music through grant making. Since our formation in 1999, we are a delegated distributor of National Lottery funding and raise additional funds from donors, artists, music industry partners, foundations and philanthropists.
How to get involved
We are looking for funders who would be interested in supporting Rescue the Roots, specifically through co-investment into any of Youth Music’s core Funding Programmes, these are:
Trailblazer Fund and Catalyser Fund
These funds work with organisations who deliver music programmes in the following areas: Early years, Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent young people, Youth justice system, Young people facing barriers, Young adults, Organisations and the workforce.
This fund is for early-stage musicians and wider music adjacent creatives to invest up to £3,000 in their own projects and make their ideas happen. It is especially aimed at those whose lack of finance holds them back from pursuing their goals.
For further information, please get in touch with Daniel Williams at Youth Music.
Who's involved
Who was involved
Karlsson Játiva Charitable Foundation have co-invested in the campaign through their Signatur Programme. Their funding will support our Trailblazer Fund particularly targeting organisations working with Early Years and Disabled young people.
Learning and Resources
You can watch our Rescue the Roots Documentary which showcases the importance of music in young people’s lives.
You can read more about the campaign on our press page, and listen to an interview with Youth Music’s CEO.
