Youth Music teamed up with DMS Vinyl this spring to raise awareness for our £1 million 'Rescue the Roots' fundraising campaign to save grassroots youth music projects.

DMS Vinyl donated £10,000 to 'Rescue the Roots', and then went one step further, launching an unmissable competition that supported both emerging artists and grassroots organisations.

The winners of the competition were Cardiff based pop-punk band Junior, who selected their local Cathay's Community Centre as the deserving recipient of the grassroots grant.

Cathays Community Centre is a vibrant hub in the centre of Cardiff that boasts music rehearsal rooms, a social space, and a recording studio, as well as meeting rooms, a cafe and a bakery. The centre also runs a wide range of youth services and community projects, and is open seven days a week.

"We’re deeply passionate about supporting young people," Helene from Cathays says. "Music has always been one of the most popular activities here. Through our programs, we help young people learn instruments, write their own songs, and produce their own music. Our Cathays Music Project is a youth-led initiative for 13–20-year-olds in Cardiff. It gives them the space, tools, and confidence to explore and shape their own musical journeys."

Youth Music NextGen Fund artist, Mali Hâf, is a youth support worker at Cathays, and this year, came runner up in the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition, which landed her performance slots at the legendary festival this June.

"The grant will help us support young people in organising and running their own music gigs - both here at the centre and out in the wider community. It’ll cover event costs, equipment, promotional materials, and provide hands-on learning in event production," Helene shares. "Most importantly, it gives young people real ownership and leadership opportunities."