Children and Young People in Challenging Circumstances

We want to improve the life chances of children and young people in the most challenging circumstances* by supporting them to achieve their full potential through engagement and progression in music-making

We strongly believe that the transformative power of music is a vital ingredient in bringing about personal and social change.  The work of our partners and funded organisations delivering music making over the last ten years has shown that children and young people who are experiencing challenges in life, whether that is through their immediate social or geographic environment, physical or learning disabilities or other factors, enjoy and benefit significantly from engaging in music-making.

We aim to show what these benefits are and how they impact on the lives of these children and young people by developing and producing a review of this work, focussing on:

1. Raising the awareness of the benefits of music making for children and young people in challenging circumstances and in particular Looked After Children and young people leaving Care
2. Developing robust evidence to support our belief in the transformative power of music and support a wider community in harnessing that power for the benefit of young people
3. Expanding music making in the UK by working with our existing partners as well as developing partnerships with non-music organizations to help us realise this goal
4. Identifying target groups of children and young people in particular need and develop the reach and ability of those we fund to support them

_{* Children and Young People in Challenging Circumstances' are those who are marginalised, vulnerable, often hard to reach, and who have the fewest opportunities.}