We Are Youth Music

We equalise access to music.

Funding

Every year, we raise £10 million to support music projects and young creatives.

NextGen

We can help you build a career in music. Check our resources and opportunities for you.

Organisations

Discover the inspirational grassroots music projects we support.

Support Us

Together with our partners, we’re helping the next generation to transform their lives through music.

In 25 years

we have invested £263,057,333 in grassroots organisations and young creatives

Since 2009

we have supported more than 5,000 projects and over 300 emerging young creatives.

41%

of our funded partners have considered closure in the past year.

Latest News

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Cathays Community Centre Wins 'Rescue the Roots' Grant to Empower Cardiff’s Young Musicians

Cathays Community Centre in Cardiff receives a £2,500 'Rescue the Roots' grant from DMS Vinyl after being chosen by competition winners, pop-punk band, Junior.

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Catalyser Fund Round 5 Expressions of Interest - How we made decisions

Information about the decision-making process for Catalyser Round 5.

Tia Kofi performs with her band at Moth Club

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Pride Month 2025: Music Venues as Queer Utopias

This Pride Month, NextGen writer, Ben Oxley, shares a powerful reflection on growing up queer in rural England, and how music venues become sanctuaries of joy, identity, and liberation for LGBTQIA+ communities.

Visual minutes illustration about co-creation, showing drawings and key questions like “What is it?” and “How do we describe it?”

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From Little Voices to Big Changes: Early Years Co-Creation with the Energiser Fund

What happens when you let toddlers take the lead? Discover why early years creative work is radical, joyful and essential, in our latest Energiser Fund story.

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Youth Music Awards 2025: Judges Announced

Over 70 artists and industry leaders join the judging panel for this year’s ceremony - calling on the music industry to champion grassroots talent.

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Pride Month 2025: Rewriting the Score

This Pride Month, NextGen writer, Florence Limb, explores how music became a vital refuge through her experiences as a queer, disabled, working-class artist. She challenges traditional gatekeeping in music, advocating for accessibility, authenticity, and representation, and highlights music’s power as both a personal sanctuary and a political act of belonging.

afromerm performs on stage at the great escape

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Youth Music at The Great Escape 2025

We headed down to Brighton for three days of sun and sounds at The Great Escape, catching performances from Youth Music NextGen Fund and community artists, plus hosting our 'Next Generation Day' panels with BBC Introducing.

Image of Mackenzie playing the guitar standing up and smiling, wearing a denim jacket

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Grassroots Music Projects: A Lifeline for Youth Mental Health

With youth mental health in crisis, grassroots youth music projects provide a lifeline. We explore how music helps young people process trauma, feel heard, and build brighter futures - and how we can save these vital spaces before they disappear.

jodie bryant wears a sleeveless button up denim dress. she plays with her blonde hair

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Jodie Bryant Joins Youth Music As New Ambassador

Jodie Bryant, known for presenting the BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop show and championing new musical talent, joins Youth Music as an ambassador.

here at outernet and youth music logos overlay a photo of a young person singing

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Outernet Venues Commits to Yearlong Youth Music Partnership Supporting 'Rescue the Roots'

Outernet Venues has committed to its first ever yearlong charity partnership which puts young creatives centre stage, raising vital funds for ‘Rescue the Roots’.

View all latest news

THE YOUTH MUSIC AWARDS

The Youth Music Awards celebrate the most forward-thinking people and projects shaping the future of music.

Judged by leading industry figures, the awards are open to Youth Music NextGen Fund recipients and those who’ve taken part in a Youth Music-funded project in the last five years.

By recognising and amplifying diverse talent, we’re making the music industries more accessible, inclusive, and representative.

Find out more

We believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to transform their life through the power of music.

But our impact extends far beyond the notes on a page or the chords on a guitar. We’re not just teaching young people how to play music; we’re teaching them how to find their voice, express their identity, and shape their future.

Through our programs and initiatives, we’re fostering creativity, confidence, and resilience in the next generation of artists, innovators, and leaders.

Join Our Community

Be part of the Youth Music movement. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates, events, and opportunities – perfect for industry pros and young creatives. Don’t miss out!

benny and nieema stand on stage at the youth music awards 2022

Opportunities

Explore a range of opportunities with Youth Music. From events and training to jobs, discover how we support grassroots projects and young creatives.

about

IDEA

We believe that music should be Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible. We call these principles 'IDEA'.