Youth Music Network has funding programmes aimed at increasing creativity in early childhood and for young people facing barriers to make, learn and earn in music. .

The Energiser Fund will award ten organisations (such as maintained nurseries, arts organisations, libraries, etc) with three-year grants of up to £120,000 to deliver creative projects for 2-4-year-olds who face barriers in England. At least 20% match funding is required.

The funding will support a wide range of creative projects across different art forms that are co-designed with young children, and delivered by organisations seeking to develop their co-design practice.

Organisations will also be invited to participate in a programme of workshops, reflection sessions, and mentoring.

The Trailblazer and Catalyser Funds continue to offer grants to support organisations working with young people facing barriers to make, learn and earn in music.

To be eligible for support applications must meet one of the following themes:

• Early years
• Disabled, deaf and neurodivergent young people
• Youth justice system
• Young people facing barriers
• Young adults
• Organisations and the workforce.

Organisations less than one year old can apply for a maximum grant of £15,000.

A minimum of 10% match funding is required.

The Trailblazer Fund offers grants of up £2,000 to £30,000 to people wanting to trial innovative ideas that test a new way of working or disrupt the status quo. This can include piloting new programmes, working with new technologies, or changing how things have always been done.

Eligible projects could, for example, include a new community organisation exploring different ways to integrate music-making into nursery activities, or an established youth centre introducing music activities for the first time.

Organisations under one year old can apply for up to £15,000.

A minimum of 10% match funding is required

The next deadlines for applications are 5pm on the following dates:

• Trailblazer Round 6 – 12 January 2024 (notification 26 Apr / project starts May – Jul 2024)  

• Trailblazer Round 7 – 30 August 2024 (notification 13 Dec 2024 / project starts Jan – Mar 2025)

• Trailblazer Round 8 – 22 November 2024 (notification 21 Mar 2025 / projects start Apr -Jun 2025).

The Catalyser Fund makes grants of between £30,001 and £300,000 for established organisations that support children and young people to make, learn and earn in music. This funding has a more detailed application process.

The deadlines for Catalyser Fund Round 4 for programmes starting between December 2024 and February 2025 are:

• Expression of Interest – 10 May 2024 (notification 28 Jun 2024)
• Full Application Deadline – 9 August 2024 (notification 8 Nov 2024).

For full details of all the above programmes, visit the Youth Music Network Funding website.