Youth Music launches Merseyside funding programme

Posted: 16 April 2009

two new grants available to organisations in the Merseyside area

Youth Music has launched the Merseyside Programme.  The total grant available for the period 1 July 2009 – 30 June 2010 is £120,000, and we will be awarding 2 grants of up to £60,000 each.  The two successful applicants will be required to work together strategically. 

This programme is designed to meet specific needs and therefore applications must meet the the following key criteria;

• Programmes should offer music-making opportunities to children and young people aged 0-18, who would otherwise not get the chance
• Young people ‘At Risk’ should represent a major part of the participant base and there will need to be a clear plan for engaging with the ‘hardest to reach’ young people across Merseyside, including the engagement of referral agencies
• Programmes should offer a wide range of experiences, covering a range of musical genres, to enable young people to broaden their horizons and mix outside of their social groups
• Youth development should be a key feature of the Merseyside programme, with structured, well-resourced and managed opportunities for young people to develop musically, personally and socially – for example through mentoring volunteering, youth leadership, showcasing work etc 
• Workforce Development of staff and music leaders must be central to the programme, be it as part of a separate programme strand e.g. music leader training scheme or through continuing professional development of staff and existing music leaders
• Strong monitoring and evaluation, from the outset and ongoing, of both the impact of work on young people, the music leaders, staff and organisations delivering the programme, and of the management/coordination model used, that can be used to inform the plan for Merseyside 2010-12

We will be looking for a strong element of partnership working, resulting in co-ordinated and complementary approaches and the sharing of good practice and will be looking to see that your application also takes into account the following:

• That the programme embraces the five Youth Music principles – Access, Breadth, Coverage, Development and Quality (see criteria appendix1 for descriptions)
• Programmes should focus on the development of musical, social and personal skills,  with clearly defined outcomes
• Programmes should work inclusively, to integrate different groups of young people, rather than focus on individual target groups in isolation
• There should be a balance between one-off (taster) sessions and sustained activity
• Of the participants, there should be a balance between first-time experiences and existing participants
• Programmes should offer progression opportunities, whether that be through providing projects for different musical ability levels or through signposting to alternative providers.  Applicants should consider how this would be monitored.
• Young people should be involved in the decision-making of the programme in a meaningful way, which could be through supporting the planning, delivery or monitoring of projects
• The networking of music leaders in partnership with MusicLeader North West
• The introduction of new or expansion of existing pan-Merseyside project(s) focusing on the hardest to reach young people and geographical locations with the least access to quality music provision
• Outreach to areas where there is little or no existing activity

If you are interested in applying for funding through this programme please read full details by downloading guidance and criteria below.  If eligible, you will then need to download and complete the application form and financial budget spreadsheet and submit it to Youth Music.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 11 May 2009.

Download criteria notes
Download guidance notes
Download Application form
Download Budget spreadsheet

 

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