Congratulations on being awarded Youth Music funding! We’re excited to welcome you to the Youth Music community.
This communications toolkit has been designed to help you to maximise the impact of your communications and fulfil your grant requirements. It's packed with important information and resources, so please read it carefully.
Shouting about your Youth Music funding helps to raise awareness of our partnership and our mission to equalise access to music for children and young people.
What are the grant requirements?
- Celebrate the funding and its impact on social media
- Use the relevant logo on your website and in marketing materials
- Send out a press release to your local media
More useful information
Use the relevant logo on your website and in marketing materials
Accepting this funding means that you have committed to acknowledge publicly both our support and the support of the [funder].
It's important to acknowledge your funding from Youth Music and our funders in any materials referring to the project. Different funds are funded by different funders, so use different logos. The full set is downloadable in a variety of formats.
This includes:
- Marketing materials, both online and printed (brochures, leaflets, newsletters etc.)
- Annual reports
- Impact reports
- Press releases and media interviews
- Pages related to the funding on your website
- Social media posts
Please include our logo in all communications related to the project we're supporting. This applies to both digital channels, media, and any printed materials. Download our logos and brand guidelines.
Send out a press release to your local media
Local media love hearing good news, like projects receiving funding. Getting your project in the news is also a great way to raise your profile and could potentially attract donations or partnerships.
Click here for a template press release:
- Include the following sentence somewhere in the main body of your press release: This project is backed by Youth Music, thanks to the [funder]. the National Lottery via Arts Council England / players of People's Postcode Lottery.
- Add the following information in the Notes for Editors section:
About Youth Music
We believe that every young person should have the chance to change their life through music. Yet our research shows that many can’t because of who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through.
Our insights, influence and investment in grassroots organisations and to young people themselves means that more 0–25-year-olds from can make, learn and earn in music.
Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.
- Email comms@youthmusic.org.uk for a quote from Youth Music and to sign off the Youth Music mentions in your press release.
Looking for guidance on crafting an impactful press release? The Youth Music Communications Team has put together a set of useful tips to prepare and distribute your press release [link].
Creating a powerful press release for your Youth Music funded project
Creating a powerful press release is vital for spotlighting your Youth Music funded project. It's about weaving a narrative that highlights your impact and captures media interest. This guide explores the essentials of effective press release writing for your project's success.
Research, statistics and survey findings usually make great national stories. Any story involving a celebrity will usually interest the media as well: think about your supporters and ambassadors and try to coordinate a story with them.
Local media will be interested to know about the impact you have on the community. Put participants at the centre: support them to tell their own stories about their experiences of the project.
Publications are more likely to print your press release if you make it easy for them. The following structure mirrors press articles and means a journalist won’t need to do much editing:
- Publication date - this can either be for immediate release, or you can set an embargo for a few days’ time.
- Short and clear headline.
- 1st paragraph: key facts - sum up the entire story in one or two sentences
- 2nd paragraph: context - why it’s important
- 3rd paragraph: details - who’s involved, how it came about etc.
- 4th paragraph: relevant quote - it adds information and credibility.
- 5th paragraph: more details - link to your website and where to get involved, buy tickets etc.
Notes to editors: this information isn’t intended to be printed, but it gives the journalist some extra context - include contact details, any other useful references and a short ‘About [your organisation] and about Youth Music’ section.
About Youth Music
We believe that every young person should have the chance to change their life through Intro or what they’re going through.
Our insights, influence and investment in grassroots organisations and to young people themselves means that more 0–25-year-olds from can make, learn and earn in music.
Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.
- Include a couple of pictures (with photo credit) and logos.
Note: Remember to send your press release to our Communications Team for sign off. You can get in touch at comms@youthmusic.org.uk.
FAQs
Making Your Content Accessible
Creating accessible content helps to reach a diverse, young audience effectively. It ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or ability, can learn from your project. For advice and practical tips on making your content accessible, visit our Accessible Content Guidelines. [link]
Free resources to create effective communications
Get in touch
Do you have any questions about using this toolkit? Email us at comms@youthmusic.org.uk.