Youth Music – Trailblazer Fund

This fund pays for grassroots music work with young people in England, not for an artist's own career. Grants of GBP 2,000 to GBP 30,000 go to organisations running music activity for children and young people aged 25 and under who face barriers, whether that means making, learning or earning in music. The work has to sit under at least one of six themes: early years; Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent young people; the youth justice system; young people facing barriers; young adults; or organisations and the workforce. Projects run between six and 24 months.

You must be a constituted UK organisation. Sole traders and individuals cannot apply, and neither can schools, colleges, academies or academy trusts, though targeted work inside special schools and pupil referral units is fundable. The fund deliberately favours small organisations, broadly those under GBP 250,000 turnover; above GBP 1 million you are unlikely to succeed. Organisations constituted less than a year ago are capped at GBP 15,000. You need recent accounts, a safeguarding policy, insurance, and you must pay everyone on the project at least the real Living Wage. Match funding is required at 10 percent of the grant, at least half of it cash, but it need not be secured when you apply, and Arts Council or Lottery money does not count toward it.

One online form, one stage, outcome within three months. Assessors judge project fit and eligibility; final decisions then weigh who is reached, location, organisation size, risk and portfolio balance. Round 11 drew 202 applications and funded 34.