Youth Music

Youth Music’s Shift the Scene Fund offers grants of up to £200,000 to organisations in England who provide creative opportunities for Disabled children and young people, pushing for genuine inclusion, ambition and accessibility.

Through advocacy, creativity, and community, we want organisations to ‘shift the scene’ and create spaces where Disabled voices lead.

This fund has been informed by our Excluded by Design research, in conjunction with our Shift the Scene Steering Group [link]

A grey square with Shift The Scene Fund written on it. The words are highlighted in red, blue and yellow.

Shift the Scene Fund Dates

Fund opens: 31 October 2025
Stage 1 deadline: 5pm on 28 November 2025
Stage 1 notification: Friday 6 February 2026
Interviews (stage 2 candidates only): TBC
Notification: Friday 27 March 2026
For projects starting: TBC

Before you apply:

We have designed two online Q&A sessions for you to...

Are you a Youth Music funded parter? Click here to sign up to the Q&A [link]
If you're not already a Youth Music funded parter, please click here to sign up to the Q&A. [link]

The fund is for organisations that:
Work across any creative discipline – not just music.
We envisage funding a couple of music projects, but music will not be the majority focus of this fund.
Already actively work with Disabled people across all parts of their organisation (i.e. as participants, volunteers, freelancers, and staff).
Have built trust with Disabled people.
Are anti-ableist, advocate for the rights of Disabled people, and operate in line with the social model of disability.
Can amplify young Disabled voices and already have established ways of co-creating with Disabled young people.
Are ambitious, who want to push boundaries within their creative practice, with Disabled young people’s creative ambitions at the heart.
Prioritise Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access. In particular, those who design-in access from the start, and think about diversity and inclusion through an intersectional lens.
Prioritise participant and staff wellbeing and safety.
Actively reflect on what they do, and are open to learning and change.
Have strong partnerships in place. One element of the programme criteria will be the development of partnerships for progression.

Individuals.
New organisations.
Organisations in Scotland and Wales.
One-off or short-term projects.
Organisations that don’t have a track record of creative work with Disabled young people.
Organisations that aren’t looking to learn and develop their practice.
Organisations without established youth voice or participatory structures.
Organisations for whom this work is not part of their core purpose.
Nurseries and schools (although they could be project partners).[CR1]

Apply to the Shift the Scene Fund

Our application guidance has full details about our fund criteria.

Below, you can also download a copy of our application form questions to draft your questions offline.

All applications must be submitted online through our grants portal (which opens on 31 October) – click on the ‘XXX’ to be taken there.

Apply Now on Grant Tracker

Applicant guidance and questions

Download applicant guidance (pdf)

Download applicant guidance (Word)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in applications

We know that organisations use AI to help with their funding applications. However, if you do use AI to help you draft your application, please make sure it’s an honest reflection of your work and plans. We often find AI answers don’t tell us enough about your actual practices, and this can have a negative impact on your assessment.

Resources to support your application

Young man on stage with guitar smiling and giving thumbs up sign

Access Support

Youth Music is committed to accessibility. Learn how our Access Support, Application Access Fund, and personal access costs help break down barriers to funding and participation.

Five young people playing using music with instruments and clapping

IDEA Hub

Find essential tools and resources to strengthen your organisation's inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) practices.

banner with the words "exclude by design? Making inequalities in the Arts for Disabled children and young people."

Excluded by Design? Mapping inequalities in the Arts for Disabled children and young people

Excluded by Design exposes systemic barriers for Disabled young people in the arts. Read the findings, explore recommendations, and join the movement to create inclusive, long-term creative opportunities through Shift the Scene.