About National foundation for youth music
National Foundation for Youth Music: Investing in the Future of Children and Young People
The National Foundation for Youth Music is a national charity that invests in music-making projects for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances. The foundation believes that music has the power to transform lives, and it aims to provide opportunities for young people to develop their musical skills, build their confidence, and improve their well-being.
The foundation was established in 1999 with the aim of making a positive impact on the lives of young people through music. Since then, it has invested over ยฃ40 million in more than 3,000 projects across England. These projects have reached over 2 million children and young people from all backgrounds.
The foundation's work is guided by its vision of a world where every child has the opportunity to make music as part of their everyday life. It believes that music can help children and young people develop important life skills such as creativity, communication, teamwork, and resilience.
One of the key ways in which the foundation supports music-making projects is through its grants programme. It provides funding to organisations that work with children and young people facing challenging circumstances such as poverty, disability or illness. The grants are designed to support a wide range of activities including singing groups, orchestras, bands or DJ-ing workshops.
In addition to providing financial support through its grants programme, the foundation also offers training opportunities for musicians who work with children and young people. This includes training on how to engage with hard-to-reach groups such as those living in deprived areas or those with disabilities.
The National Foundation for Youth Music also works closely with other organisations across England who share its vision of using music as a tool for social change. This includes partnerships with local authorities, schools and community groups who are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people through music-making activities.
One example of this partnership working is Sound Connections - an organisation based in London which supports music-making activities for children and young people across the capital. The National Foundation for Youth Music has been a key funder of Sound Connections since its inception in 2002, providing financial support to help it develop its programmes and reach more young people.
The foundation's work has had a significant impact on the lives of many young people across England. For example, one project supported by the foundation is the Streetwise Opera - an organisation that provides opera workshops for homeless people. Through this project, participants have been able to develop their musical skills, build their confidence and improve their well-being.
Another example is the In Harmony programme - a music education initiative that aims to inspire and transform the lives of children in some of England's most deprived areas through orchestral music-making. The programme has been supported by the National Foundation for Youth Music since 2010 and has reached over 1,500 children from low-income families.
In conclusion, The National Foundation for Youth Music is a national charity that invests in music-making projects for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances. Its work is guided by its vision of a world where every child has the opportunity to make music as part of their everyday life. Through its grants programme, training opportunities and partnerships with other organisations across England, it aims to provide opportunities for young people to develop their musical skills, build their confidence and improve their well-being. Its impact on the lives of many young people across England cannot be overstated - it truly is investing in the future generation!