Breadcrumb Home News Cathays Community Centre Wins 'Rescue... Cathays Community Centre Wins 'Rescue the Roots' Grant to Empower Cardiff’s Young Musicians Posted: 08/07/2025 Copy URL https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/cathays-community-centre-wins-rescue-roots-grant-empower-cardiffs-young-musicians Cathays Community Centre Wins 'Rescue the Roots' Grant to Empower Cardiff’s Young Musicians Posted: 08/07/2025 Copy URL https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/cathays-community-centre-wins-rescue-roots-grant-empower-cardiffs-young-musicians 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.Pop-punk band, Junior, won a £2,500 vinyl pressing from DMS Vinyl, along with a £2,500 grant for their local grassroots music project, Cathay's Community Centre in Cardiff. 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." 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news Youth Music Report: Global Majority Young People Underrepresented in Music Industry A new Youth Music report reveals Global Majority young people are underrepresented in music industry leadership despite strong cultural ties and ambition for careers in music. Read more
news Born Into Music, Locked Out of Power Our latest thought leadership piece, 'Born Into Music, Locked out of Power', exposes the structural inequalities blocking Global Majority young people from progressing in the music industry, despite their deep-rooted cultural connection to music. Read more
news Spotify x Youth Music: Open Doors Day Behind the scenes of Open Doors Day — a landmark moment in our Spotify partnership, celebrating youth creativity, industry access, and the spaces where artists begin. Read more
news NextGen Community Event: Making Money While Making Music In association with Circle of Light, our Nottingham NextGen Community event discussed the realities of making money while making music. Read more
news Cathays Community Centre Wins 'Rescue the Roots' Grant to Empower Cardiff’s Young Musicians Cathays Community Centre in Cardiff receives a £2,500 'Rescue the Roots' grant from DMS Vinyl after being chosen by competition winners, pop-punk band, Junior. Read more
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news Youth Music Awards 2025: Judges Announced Over 70 artists and industry leaders join the judging panel for this year’s ceremony - calling on the music industry to champion grassroots talent. Read more