National Foundation for Youth Music grants
National Foundation for Youth Music funds music-making for children and young people, with organisation grants of £30,001 to £300,000 through its Catalyser Fund in England.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Youth Music, the working name of the National Foundation for Youth Music, runs separate funds with different rules, so start by working out which one fits you. Its Catalyser Fund is for organisations: grant sizes are between £30,001 and £300,000, programmes last between 24 and 48 months, and that fund only funds work in England. Its NextGen Fund is for individual young creatives rather than organisations, and offers grants of up to £3,000. NextGen applicants must be aged 18 to 25 at the point of the application deadline, or 18 to 30 if they identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent. The charity's stated objects are to advance the education of the public, especially young people, in particular in the arts and culture.
What they fund
These are the purposes recorded for the charity on the Charity Commission register. Its own funds are narrower than this, and each one sets its own criteria.
Who and where
The register records that the charity works throughout England, for children and young people. Its NextGen Fund guidance covers applicants across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while its Catalyser Fund guidance says that fund only funds work in England.
Who they help
Where they fund
What National Foundation for Youth Music says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“Support early-stage musicians and music-adjacent creatives.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
Who they say they'll fund
“You're aged 18 to 25 at the point of the application deadline. If you identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent, you can be aged 18 to 30.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
“Youth Music's Catalyser Fund only funds work in England.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music Catalyser Fund Application Guidance →
“Programmes last between 24 and 48 months.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music Catalyser Fund Application Guidance →
“You're based in, and your project will take place in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
What they say they won't fund
“You aren't signed to a record label, publisher or management company.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
“You aren't already employed full time in the music industries.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
“Groups, bands and collectives. This grant supports individual creatives and their career development. We do not fund bands, groups, or collectives.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
Grant sizes they mention
“The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £3,000 to make their ideas happen.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
“Grant sizes are between £30,001 and £300,000.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music Catalyser Fund Application Guidance →
Deadlines they mention
“All application deadlines are 5pm.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
How they say to apply
“A two-stage application process with one funding round per year. Stage one is a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form. You'll hear the outcome within three months.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music Catalyser Fund Application Guidance →
“We run two rounds of funding each year.”
Source: youthmusic.org.uk — Youth Music NextGen Fund Application Guidance January 2026 →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The objects of the Charity are, for the public benefit, to advance the education of the public (especially young people), in particular, in the arts and culture.
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does Youth Music give?
It depends on the fund. Its Catalyser Fund guidance says grant sizes are between £30,001 and £300,000. Its NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £3,000. We do not have a typical (median) award figure for this funder.
What does Youth Music fund?
Its objects are to advance the education of the public, especially young people, in particular in the arts and culture. Its Charity Commission entry records arts, culture, heritage and science, education and training, and amateur sport, for children and young people. Its NextGen Fund guidance says that fund supports early-stage musicians and music-adjacent creatives.
Who can apply?
This differs by fund. The Catalyser Fund guidance says it only funds work in England. The NextGen Fund is for individuals: its guidance says you must be based in, and your project must take place in, England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, and that you must be aged 18 to 25 at the point of the application deadline, or 18 to 30 if you identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent.
What won't Youth Music fund?
Its NextGen Fund guidance says you are not eligible if you are signed to a record label, publisher or management company, or if you are already employed full time in the music industries. It also says that fund does not fund bands, groups or collectives, because the grant supports individual creatives and their career development.
How do I apply?
Each fund has its own process. The NextGen Fund guidance says there are two rounds of funding each year and that all application deadlines are 5pm. The Catalyser Fund guidance describes a two-stage application process with one funding round per year, where stage one is a short Expression of Interest form and you hear the outcome within three months. Check the funder's own website (www.youthmusic.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1075032) for current guidance, as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for National Foundation for Youth Music?
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with National Foundation for Youth Music.