Youth Music

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Youth Music is a UK-wide charity set up in 1999 to provide high quality and diverse music-making opportunities for 0 – 18 years. One of the National Lottery's great success stories, it was set up in 1999, with a remit to support music-making activities for some of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need. Youth Music has gone on to reach over one million children and young people with its nationwide strategy to support youth music-making, encouraging their talents, building their confidence and transforming the landscape of musical opportunity throughout the UK. The music-making supported spans every genre of music and every kind of musical activity.

The organisation has championed and demonstrated the importance of music-making for children and young people since its inception. Opportunities to get involved in music which were once widely accessible through the formal education sector are now much harder for some children to access. Youth Music plays a crucial role in filling this gap.

Youth Music receives £10m a year lottery funding through Arts Council England. It also has levered in more than £13.7m in partnership from other sources. Youth Music distributes money it receives to develop and implement a UK-wide strategy to support youth-music making that will:

- Establish a legacy of music-making opportunities for children/young people
- Improve overall standards of music-making
- Champion the value of music-making to the lives of young children and young people up to the age of 18 years old
- Establish music-making opportunities for regenerating whole communities

Since December 2000, Youth Music has set up 24 Action Zones in areas of social and economic need across England and Wales. The aim is to provide music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. The Zones are made up of a consortium of established organisations from the public, voluntary and private sector. They cover all genres of music and deliver a wide range of activities including workshops, rehearsals, performances, one-to-one teaching and mentoring.

Youth Music aims to reach 3 million young people by 2010. The vision is to create a sustainable environment to channel young peoples’ creativity, enabling them to express themselves and develop their skills through music.

More information is available at www.youthmusic.org.uk

Youth Music has also has a website for under 18s at www.soundstation.org.uk

Youth Music supports the Music Manifesto