Youth Music Initiative Funding

Creative Scotland administers the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme which aims to:

  • Create access to high-quality music-making opportunities for children and young people, particularly for those that would not normally have the chance to participate
  • Enable children and young people to achieve their potential in or through music making
  • Support the development of the youth music sector for the benefit of children and young people

You can learn more about the Youth Music Initiative, read our impact reports and evaluations and find out about our latest work over on the main YMI programme page.

For guidance on completing YMI Interim and End of Project Forms please visit the relevant fund pages.

Contents

Apply for Funding

There will be four routes to apply for funding for youth music projects in 2023/24. For guidance on eligibility, criteria and applying to these funds, please visit relevant fund pages.

School Based Music Making (Formula Fund)

This fund aims to fulfil the YMI Scottish Government commitment that every school pupil in Scotland should be offered a year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school. This is a targeted fund open for applications from Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities and Jordanhill School.

Access to Music Making

The purpose of the Access to Music Making fund is to create access to high-quality music making opportunities for children and young people.

Strengthening Youth Music

To support individuals, organisations and networks who work outwith school settings to undertake training and continuing professional development that will strengthen youth music in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people.

YMI CPD and Training Fund

To support individuals, organisations and networks who work outwith school settings to undertake training and continuing professional development that will strengthen youth music in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people.

Further advice and information

If you would like more information about Youth Music Initiative, get in touch with a member of the YMI team.

If you require support, further information or have any general enquiries about the application process please contact our Enquiries Service. Our Enquiries Service will be able to advise you or will put you in contact with one of our officers.

You can also visit the Creative Scotland contact page for information on how to get in touch via our website or social media.

If you are a D/deaf BSL user, you can access our services with the Contact Scotland-BSL programme. Visit the Contact Scotland BSL website for more information.

Stay up to date

Stay up to date with the programme by signing up to the YMI newsletter. You can also keep up to date with all things YMI by following the hashtag #YMIScotland and follow us at @CreativeScots.

Latest Stories from YMI

Spotlight - Reflections on Summer 2022

What a summer it’s been! In this month’s Spotlight, to celebrate all the YMI activity that has taken place over the last couple of months, and remind us #YMusicMatters, here’s a just wee taste of what’s been going on.

Published: 07 Sep 2022

Spotlight - Supporting experimental music-making

In this month’s Spotlight, we’re talking about how the Youth Music Initiative supports opportunities for young people to get involved in experimental music as part of our 20th anniversary.

Published: 09 Aug 2022

#NoWrongPath - Sace Lockhart's post-exam journey, plus five tips for regrouping after exam results

We speak to Sace Lockhart, Project Manager of Music Plus and Musicares at Scottish Music Centre, about his experience of school, and his journey after exam results. Don't miss our five tips and list of resources too! #NoWrongPath

Published: 08 Aug 2022

Applications for the Sound of Young Scotland award open

The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award have announced the opening of applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award, supported by Ticketmaster, the Youth Music Initiative (funded by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland) and Youth Music.

Published: 25 Jul 2022

Spotlight - Jazzing it up with the National Orchestras of Scotland

In July's Spotlight, we hear about the jazzy summer celebrations planned by the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and supported by YMI, that will mark their 30th anniversary.

Published: 04 Jul 2022