Youth Music Initiative

In 2003, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) was launched to put music at the heart of children and young people’s lives and learning. It currently operates with an annual budget of £9 million and supports all musical genres, age groups and teaching methods.

On this page you can learn more about the programme by reading the annual plan as well as recent impact reports and evaluations.

Youth Music Initiative Funding

Supporting high quality music making opportunities for young people aged 0 – 25 yrs.

YMI Downloads

Discover more about youth music in Scotland and the YMI programme through our latest reports, evaluations and case studies.

YMI Newsletter Sign Up

Stay up to date with the programme by signing up to the YMI newsletter

Youth Music Initiative 20th Anniversary Celebration

In 2022 we're celebrating a wonderful 20 years of the Youth Music Initiative.

Latest Stories from YMI

Spotlight - It's Time To Mobilize!

With Youth Music Initiative funding, Mobilize have really been able to take things to another level and build on their musical legacy. Enjoy some highlights of what they got up to over the last year.

Published: 03 Jul 2023

Spotlight - Sounds Like Music at Murrayburn Primary

In this month's Spotlight, we speak to some of the people responsible for delivering the Youth Music Initiative at Murrayburn Primary School in Sighthill, Edinburgh.

Published: 05 Jun 2023

£9.5 million to support young musicians

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has confirmed £9.5 million funding for Scotland’s flagship Youth Music Initiative (YMI) this year.

Published: 25 May 2023