There are three Open Programmes that you can apply to: ‘First Steps’; ‘Make It Sound’ and ‘Vocalise!’

What is First Steps?
We have created the First Steps programme to encourage and support regular creative music-making activities for children between 0 and 5 years, especially those who would otherwise lack the chance to take part.

Proposals must:

• Include creative music activities incorporating simple instruments, voice and movement.
• Include structured music activities that are planned to develop children’s skills and lead to a smooth transition to primary school.
• Include sharing music-making with parents and carers. First Steps aims to influence parents and carers to show that music-making is a fun learning tool and a natural part of growing. This does not necessarily mean that they have to be present at each workshop.
• Involve a skilled early years music specialist who is prepared to work with trainees (staff or parents) to hand on skills with the aim of ensuring that those staff and parents build confidence in music-making and can lead if and when the specialist’s involvement comes to an end.
• Include weekly, progressive group music-making and music of more than one culture.
• Be for between £5,000 and £15,000 for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months.

Make It Sound
We have created Make It Sound to encourage music-making in the lives of children and young people aged 5-18, especially those who would otherwise lack the chance to take part.

We want to support proposals that include music-making activities for children and young people who find it hard to access opportunities that may help them to develop and progress. 

Proposals must:

• Include structured music-making activities that develop children and young people’s music skills. · Include composition, song writing and/or improvisation.
• Include no more than 25% activity in school hours – (except SEN and those excluded from mainstream education or in detention). 
• Include children and young people aged 5-18 (up to 25 with SEN).
• Be for between £10,000 and £30,000.
• Be for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 24 months.  However, if a programme is less than 18 month it is unlikely it will be awarded £30,000.

Vocalise!
We have created Vocalise! to encourage opportunities for children and young people to sing, particularly those who would otherwise lack the chance to take part. Through Vocalise! we want to support proposals where the voice is the principal means of making music. This can be through a range of vocal styles, not only traditional choral singing, for example beatboxing, rapping, any popular music styles with or without microphones, scat singing, musical theatre, opera, gospel, chant and all other vocal traditions from around the world.

Proposals must:

• Include music-making where the voice is the main instrument
• Include structured singing or vocal activities that develop children and young people’s music skills.
• Include opportunities for children and young people to share their
• achievements, for example performing to their friends, family or wider community.
• Involve children and young people age 5-18 (up to 25 with SEN).
• Include no more than 25% activity in school hours (except SEN and those excluded from mainstream education or in detention).
• Be for between £5,000 and £20,000 for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 18 months.
• Not spend more than 5% of the total award on equipment (e.g. instruments, technology, sheet music).

Area: UK

Who Can Apply: Youth Music will fund any non profit-making organisation more than one year old, that is committed to music-making activities for children and young people up to 18. There are some obvious types of organisation. For example:

• community music organisations
• organisations that represent young people's music-making
• education authorities' music services or music trusts
• schools working in partnership
• professional arts organisations
• singing groups
• youth groups

There are many voluntary agencies which are concerned with young people's welfare. They are also eligible to apply if they are committed to music-making activities in the context of their work.

Please note that Youth Music cannot support profit-making companies.

Grant Range: Grants for between £5,000 and £30,000 are available to non-profit making organisations to work with children and young people, up to the age of 18, over a period of 6 to 24 months. 

How to Apply: Guidelines and Application Forms available from the website

When to Apply (Deadlines): Not specified

Contact Details:

T: 020 7902 1060
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
W: www.youthmusic.org.uk

Source: Youth Music Website