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I need funding
Apply for a Youth Music grant
Youth Music Funding
On this page you can find information about our different grant programmes, including the Incubator Fund, the NextGen Fun, and the new Trailblazer Fund and Catalyser Fund. Scroll down for our latest funding deadlines.
Introducing the Trailblazer Fund and the Catalyser Fund
We have relaunched Fund A and Fund B - complete with new application forms, guidance and names! Read more in this blog about what we did and what's changed.
Which fund is for you?
We have some tools to help you understand the differences between our funds, including our newest funds, and help you decide which fund is for you. Visit Which Youth Music Fund should I apply to?
Our Funding Prioirities
Visit our Funding Priorities page to read regularly updated information about our funding priorities.
Access Fund - Support making an application
If you identify as Disabled and need further support to make an application to Youth Music, you can apply to our Access Fund. This provides funding to cover any additional access costs that might be required for you to make an application to one of Youth Music’s main grant funds. You should apply for this fund before you start making your application.
Click here for more information on the Access Fund.
Funds open for applications
We currently have no funds open for applications.
Our Funds
Incubator Fund
Grants of £5,000 to £30,000 for businesses, collectives, and not-for-profits working in the music industries. The fund is designed to help open up access to sustainable careers in music for people aged 18-25, particularly those who are underrepresented; and to support creative employers to innovate and incubate new and diverse talent.
Click here for more information on the Incubator Fund.
Trailblazer Fund (previously Fund A)
Grants of between £2,000 to £30,000 for organisations that support children and young people facing barriers to make, learn and earn in music.
Round 2 is open for applications.
Click here for more information on the Trailblazer Fund.
Catalyser Fund (previously Fund B)
Grants of between £30,001 and £300,000 for established organisations that support children and young people to make, learn and earn in music.
Click here for more information on the Catalyser Fund.
NextGen Fund
The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives (aged 18 - 25, or 18 - 30 if they identify as Disabled) grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen. We’ve launched the NextGen Fund to help emerging musicians and behind the scenes creatives take a step forward in participating and changing the music industries.
Click here for more information on the NextGen Fund.
Fund C
Fund C awarded larger grants of up to £160,000 for projects with a dual role of delivery and strategic work; expanding and embedding high quality, inclusive music-making. There are thirteen Fund C grantholders (who also go by the name AMIE or the Alliance of a Musically Inclusive England). These organisations have recently been awarded a one year extension meaning the programme will run to March 2023. We won't be launching another Fund C programme after this date - read more in our latest grant changes blog.
Music Education Hub Development Fund
The Music Education Hub Development Fund offered grants of up to £50,000 to partnerships of at least three Music Education Hub lead organisations.
Currently closed for applications.
Funding deadlines
Trailblazer Fund (previously Fund A)
Trailblazer Fund Round 1
Deadline: 13 May 2022
Notification: 22 July 2022
For projects starting between: August and October 2022
Trailblazer Fund Round 2
Deadline: 29 July 2022
Notification: 04 November 2022
For projects starting between: December 2022 and February 2023
Trailblazer Round 3
Deadline: 25 November 2022
Notification: 03 March 2023
For projects starting between: April and June 2023
Catalyser Fund (previously Fund B)
Each Catalyser Fund round consists of two stages. If your Expression of Interest is successful you will be invited to complete a full application.
Catalyser Fund Round 1
Expression of Interest Deadline: 27 May 2022
Notification: 05 July 2022
Full Application Deadline: 29 July 2022
Notification: 14 October 2022
For programmes starting between: November 2022 and January 2023
Catalyser Fund Round 2
Expression of Interest Deadline: 04 November 2022
Notification: 09 December 2022
Full Application Deadline: 13 January 2023
Notification: 24 March 2023
For programmes starting between: April 2023 and June 2023
Incubator Fund
Incubator Fund Round 5
Deadline: 02 December 2022
Notification: 24 February 2023
For projects starting between: March and May 2023
NextGen Fund
NextGen Fund Round 3
Deadline: May 2022
Notification: August 2022
NextGen Fund Round 4
Deadline: September 2022
Notification: November 2022
NextGen Fund Round 5
Deadline: January 2023
Notification: April 2023
Where to apply
We recommend you read the applicant guidance document for the fund you want to apply to before starting your application. Once you've planned your application and read our guidance you can then apply via Youth Music's online grants portal.
You will need to register on the grants portal - please note that this is a separate site from the Youth Music Network.