We launched the Youth Music Recharge Fund to support organisations and people to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
It provides vital core funding for small charities and grassroots organisations, and is one of the first national funds with a specific focus on staff wellbeing. The investment responds to research by Youth Music, How COVID-19 has affected youth music making which revealed that 60% of creative organisations needed help with funding and income diversification. A total of £1,793,809 will be distributed to 40 music projects nationwide, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
- Abram Wilson Foundation for Creative Arts, national - They inspire, connect and open doors to the music industry so that underrepresented young talent has an equal chance to realise their creative potential. Inspired by the critically acclaimed and award-winning musician Abram Wilson, they provide visibility, access and opportunity within an industry which is often closed to all but the most privileged. The Recharge Fund will help diversify income streams and bring in coaching to support the professional development and wellbeing of staff.
- Beats Bus Records, Hull, Yorkshire & Humber – A mobile recording studio which offers young people a unique and exciting way to combine the elements of hip-hop break-dance, graffiti, MCing and DJing knowledge. The Recharge Fund will help them to scale-up existing award-winning outreach work with young people. It will also help to develop new pilots with a particular emphasis on young people at risk of exclusion.
- Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (CGWM), Gwynedd, Wales - Dedicated to providing music training and performance experiences for the people of Wales, fostering both the enjoyment of and participation in music-making. They plan to use the Recharge Fund to maintain current levels of staffing, provide mentoring opportunities for young freelancers aged 18-25 and provide a programme of professional development and wellbeing sessions for staff and freelancers.
- Chuckle Productions, Staffordshire, East Midlands - Families are at the heart of Chuckle Productions - they give children the freedom to explore their creativity in a welcoming and stimulating environment. The Recharge Fund will help deliver a team mindfulness and wellbeing strategy, create extra bid writing hours, free up senior time to focus on strategic development work, and create a part-time fundraising post.
- Come Play With Me, Leeds, Yorkshire & Humber - A non-profit music development organisation specialising in supporting people from marginalised communities. The Recharge Fund will pay for wellbeing/development activities for the team and organisational development: recruitment, marketing, apprentice costs and for R&D around their 'Allyship' Programme.)
- DD8 Music, Kirriemuir, Scotland - DD8 Music is dedicated to promoting involvement in musical activities to people of all ages in the Kirriemuir area. They run a rehearsal and recording studio. It is a space where people can have the freedom to experiment with music, and be encouraged to develop their talent.
- EH-FM Radio C.I.C, Edinburgh, Scotland - EHFM is an online community radio station broadcasting from Edinburgh’s Summerhall. They intend to bolster support and training for the participants who volunteer and present shows on the radio station, through paying a volunteer coordinator and the station director for their work, while creating a yearly audio production course in conjunction with local studio Lost Oscillation.
- Evolve Music, Somerset, South West - Evolve Music is a grassroots community music charity based in the South West. Using sound exploration and improvisation they co-create music with communities and support the development of music leaders and the wider community music sector. The Recharge Fund will provide emergency funding to ensure they can continue to operate, supporting staff costs, running costs and an injection to re-establish their reserves. It will allow them to support staff and freelancers’ wellbeing.
- Fearless Youth Association, Nottingham, East Midlands - Formed by 12 young people who were out of education and not at work, Fearless Youth Association (FYA) has become a highly effective group in attracting and engaging young people seeking to turn their lives around. They plan to re-launch their music recording, live performance and promotion activities following the closure of their studio due to the impact of Covid-19. This will be through recruiting staff, freelancers and volunteers to train, support and engage young people to improve capacity, capability, and wellbeing.
- Future Yard CIC, Wirral, North West – This new community venue will bring some of today’s most exciting new national and international artists to Wirral, while at the same time providing key early performance opportunities for emerging local musicians. The Recharge Fund will be used to fund a dedicated salaried position for three days per week, over three years, focusing on evaluation and impact measurement.
- Gorse Hill Studios, Manchester, North West – Gorse Hill Studios work with young people, encouraging them to value themselves by taking an active role in their community and learning. The Recharge Fund will enable them to conduct building works in order to modernise and expand their 20-year-old music studio, refurbish equipment, train staff to utilise the space effectively and employ a part time Studio Manager.
- Groundswell Arts, London – Groundswell Arts designs and delivers creative education programmes for 0–11-year-olds, their families and teachers. Their initiatives are designed to reduce educational disadvantage and develop teachers’ confidence to embed creativity and the arts into the curriculum. The Recharge Fund will support strategic growth and capacity building, through part of a director’s salary across three years, investment in experienced freelancers to lead on training in schools, and the development of a series of company wellbeing days.
- Inclusic, West Midlands - Inclusic provides bespoke music projects and workshops to schools, community centres, charities, SEN facilities and all sections of the community. They use music as a tool to engage and inspire young people and adults to unlock their potential. They plan to develop a new large open-plan rehearsal/recording studio with easy wheelchair access, hire a new social media marketing manager, and begin a monthly paid reflection group session for music practitioners.
- In-Spire Sounds, Oxfordshire, South East – They provide a professional recording, mixing and mastering service that is affordable and supportive of community and charitable activities. The Recharge Fund will support youth sessions including the set-up and running of a non-profit record label for young people, as well as a number of community and cultural projects and partnerships.
- Irene Taylor Trust Music in Prisons, national - Projects support young people not in education, employment or training, ex-prisoners, and people of all ages in prisons. They will use the funding to enhance wellbeing by offering supervision to office staff and freelancer musicians, and to build capacity and capability by supporting annual CPD training for staff and musicians, creating promotional videos to grow individual giving, and supporting core costs.
- Jack Drum Arts, County Durham, North East - Jack Drum Arts is a social enterprise providing cultural opportunities for communities in County Durham and the wider region through a range of workshops, courses, theatre, music-making and outdoor events. They will use the Recharge Fund to contribute to salary costs and training fees, increase income streams through new supporter/donor initiatives, programme wellbeing activities and team away days, and offer an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Jamming Station, Devon, South West - A hub where artists can connect and grow creatively through crafting ideas, making music and performing. Projects support young people to strengthen their voice and expression, helping them to step up in their lives with greater confidence and resilience. They plan to strengthen the core of the organisation for the long term, embedding values and wellbeing into day-to-day practice to enable an agile and responsive team. They will develop sustainable sources of income and cultivate their existing community, strengthening capacity and capability to generate future income.
- Jubacana, Oldham, North West - A youth-led, fusion music and dance project based in Oldham for 8-18s, inspired by the music of Brazil and beyond with a UK twist. They will use the Recharge Fund to boost employment and training for their emerging youth workforce, administering a youth project fund to support young leaders in developing their own mini projects, build financial stability with external mentoring/support, and improve their music-making offer with high-quality equipment.
- Made with Music, Leeds, Yorkshire & Humber - Made with Music is an award-winning charity providing accessible live music for families of all ages and abilities through mini gigs, workshops, performances, and classes. The Recharge Fund will enable them to reflect and move forward after a very uncertain year. The funding will ease financial worry and enhance wellbeing.
- Magic Acorns, Norfolk, East of England - Magic Acorns is an early years development organisation striving to co-create ground-breaking work with, and for, the very youngest children. The Recharge Fund will build Magic Acorns as a robust, sustainable, well-governed organisation, which is a great place for artists and musicians to work.
- Ministry Of Life Education CIC, Cardiff, Wales - MOL Education Services is a not-for-profit music and media alternative education company that services young people between 11-25. They aim to use the Recharge Fund to improve the wellbeing of the staff and young people that attend the project, and to increase their capacity as an organisation.
- Music 4 U SCIO, Aberdeen, Scotland - An inclusive provider of performing arts classes in Aberdeen and Newburgh. They offer public performance opportunities for all participants throughout the year. With the Recharge Fund they will deliver a yearly 8-week Wellness Project to the Creative Team for them to learn a dance routine by a professional choreographer. They will hire a Development & Fundraising Consultant to help find new premises, review and manage governance, and research additional funding and sponsorship opportunities.
- Northern Roots, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East - An independent cultural organisation and charity that specialises in developing and promoting Roots music in North East England. The Recharge Fund will be used to ensure that the organisation is sustainable over the course of the next three years. They will focus on the wellbeing of staff, and appoint a fundraiser and a digital marketing manager to significantly grow the fundraising capacity and reach of the organisation.
- OmniMusic, Stockport, North West - They use Assistive Music Technology (AMT) to enable disabled and non-disabled musicians to make and play music in ambitious, imaginative and creative ways. The Recharge Fund will allow them to implement a newly created five-year business plan, reaching more young people through inclusive music. They will provide financial and job security for staff, increase capacity with new role of Creative Communicator, and deliver strategic away days.
- Operasonic, Newport, Wales - Operasonic creates opportunities for people to use their creative power to tell stories and celebrate their communities and open up music as a means of self-expression. The Recharge Fund will support Operasonic with freelance staff time allowing the development of a staff wellbeing plan and consolidation of business plan, expert training to support the development of longer-term strategies, and a contribution to office rental and overheads.
- OPUS Music CIC, East Midlands - OPUS Music are leaders in making music with people in health and social care settings. They play music on hospital wards and at the bedside, for patients, visitors and staff to listen to or join in. The Recharge Fund will add capacity and capability to OPUS by the funding of a Communications/ Partnerships Manager alongside income to strengthen the Chief Executive role, establish routine retreats for the artistic team, enabling increased wellbeing, growth and input into the organisation, and support OPUS's critical role within the Music in Healthcare community.
- Pedestrian, Leicester, East Midlands - Pedestrian provides education, training and outreach projects for young people at risk, vulnerable adults and communities experiencing disadvantage. The Recharge Fund will support an 18-month programme strengthening Pedestrian as a leading arts and education organisation by developing the financial capacity and sustainability guided by professionals and supporting the staff by improving wellbeing, CPD and salaries to keep them happy, healthy and motivated.
- Pie Factory Music, Kent, South East - Pie Factory Music is a charity set up to provide free accessible music and related arts workshops for young people across East Kent. These are primarily but not exclusively for people aged between 0-25 years. They intend to deliver an inspiring programme to enhance the wellbeing of the team.
- Platform B, Brighton, South East - Platform B is a not-for-profit next generation radio station broadcasting online. The station is directed by a new wave of DJs, producers and presenters who are re-imagining and diversifying the medium with music and youth programming. The Recharge Fund will be used to retain a full time Assistant Station Manager and hire a part time experienced fundraiser. The project will also offer non-work wellbeing activities, and mental health first aid and suicide prevention training.
- Quench Arts, West Midlands – Projects focus on nurturing artistic talent and progression in areas where opportunities may be limited. They also provide professional development and mentoring support to artists working in communities. The Recharge Fund will cover interim financial stability support, administration support, team wellbeing activities, and review/ amendments to future-proof Quench’s governance.
- Rap Club Productions C.I.C, London – Rap Club is a unique approach to modern music education that can be thoroughly embedded within school curriculums and extra-curricular projects. They support young people to take ownership of their cultures, embracing the positive vibrant potential and transitioning this towards meaningful, successful creative careers. This combines community - impacting personal and community development - alongside industry-credible excellence in opportunities, experiences and output.
- Saffron Records CIC, national - Saffron is a music tech initiative taking an intersectional approach to redressing the gender imbalance in the industry. Using the Recharge Fund, they will create a Saffron ‘bible’ for freelancers and staff so they can further spread their message, increase connection to staff in different cities, invest in training opportunities and equipment, and increase salaries.
- School Ground Sounds, London - Projects aim to develop young people both musically and personally. They work with 11-24 year-olds from South London. The Recharge Fund will support a dedicated personal/professional development fund for the core team, and mean they can hold regular Post Project Appreciation Days for the wider team (including freelance staff and young leaders). The fund will support the Fundraising Manager's salary, and the salaries of two new roles: Youth Graphic Designer and Programme Assistant.
- Soundcastle, national - A charity with a vision to positively challenge the landscape of community music. They have a shared passion for advancing the field of creative music facilitation and the drive to operate a truly socially responsible arts organisation. Soundcastle will use the Recharge Fund to design and implement the Soundcastle Wellbeing Agenda, to develop mental health first aid training, to embed three salaried music facilitator roles, and to maintain support for freelance staff.
- Soundplay Projects Ltd, Paisley, Scotland - Soundplay Projects make accessible, interactive installations, events and objects. Designed for people of all backgrounds and abilities, they engage through play experimentation and creative communication. The Recharge Fund will be used to increase capacity through a new fundraising initiative, develop capability through training, research and development and support freelance artists with a year-long health and wellbeing programme.
- Suffolk Artlink, East of England – A participatory arts charity, developing and delivering inclusive arts programmes that support people’s health and wellbeing. Their creative projects help people transform their lives through the arts by bringing skills, support networks, confidence and joy to communities. The Recharge Fund will provide a wellbeing programme, reflective practice consultancy report, and support for project development and fundraising.
- Swansea Music Art Digital, Wales – A youth and community charity driven by digital inclusion, the arts, social justice, heritage and the environment. They create a wide range of digital content and media with people who share their values. The Recharge Fund will enable Swansea MAD to increase capacity, improve capability, and strengthen wellbeing support for their team, providing stability and sustainability through the implementation of a wellbeing strategy and sustainability strategy.
- The Seagull Lowestoft CIC, East of England – A small not-for-profit community theatre which plays host to a regular stream of local talent, regional and national touring theatre companies and a vibrant selection of classes and community events. The Recharge Fund will develop staff with better training and access to mental health support, increase staffing capacity by employing a part time music technician; rebuild and retrain their volunteer workforce, employing a part time co-ordinator; increase the training opportunities for staff and volunteers, and redevelop their business plan.
- The Together Project, national - The Together Project boosts wellbeing, reduces loneliness and fosters stronger, happier communities by creating joyful intergenerational experiences. The Recharge Fund will build their organisational capacity and improve the team's wellbeing whilst delivering the Songs & Smiles programme - an intergenerational music group for young children, their parents/guardians and older adults.
- Young Women's Music Project, Oxford, South East - YWMP provides an inclusive, supportive space for young women and non-binary people to get together to make music, learn new skills, express themselves, and grow in confidence. The Recharge Fund will provide core funding towards the salary of their director over the next three years, with professional development training and supervision, to enable the director to focus on the strategic development and future growth of the charity.