Better Youth Spaces striking a chord with budding creatives
More creative equipment for young people? It’s music to our ears! Better Youth Spaces has provided over £2.5M in grants to 183 youth services across England for creative equipment, including musical instruments, recording and DJ equipment, as well as funding to support photography, theatre and dance.
Music and creative activities provide a powerful outlet for self-expression and emotional processing and can offer significant benefits for young people; they can enhance mood, improve social skills, and boost cognitive functions like memory and attention. Enhancing youth services’ creative offer means that young people for young people have the chance to try an instrument, piece of kit or learn a new skill they might not have access to at home or school.
Martin Buchanan from E2 in Leicester, said: “This funding has made a real difference to what we can offer young people in Beaumont Leys. A lot of the young people we work with have talent, ideas and ambition, but they do not always have access to the equipment, space or support they need to develop it.
“The new music and digital media kit means we can give young people hands-on experience of creating, recording and producing their own work. It also allows us to take sessions into community spaces, so opportunities are not limited to those who can always get to the Hub.
“For us, this is about more than buying equipment. It is about giving young people a proper creative platform, helping them build confidence, learn practical skills and tell their own stories in a way that feels real to them.”
Kinetika Bloco is a youth organisation working with young people aged 8-25 years old across South London, specifically in Lambeth. They provide access to music and dance activity taught by professionals who can provide role models, inspiration and support whilst teaching young people transferable life skills and encouraging them to explore their creativity.
Tamzyn Marchev, CEO of Kinetika Bloco, said: “Thanks to Better Youth Spaces we have bought 25 new Steel Pans for our after-school clubs and holiday programmes, allowing up to 50 young people to participate in sessions weekly. We run group sessions in Steel Pans which are very popular with young people and a great way to get them into the discipline and community setting of a music ensemble, where they can learn so many transferable life skills. Steel pans can last for many years, so they have the potential to help thousands of young people for years to come.”
Other creative equipment for youth services across the country has included lighting rigs and PA systems, podcasting equipment, mirrors for dance studios, and sewing machines for dress making and design.
Doncaster Danum Scout Band bought a range of new instruments with their grant, and they already have a new player using one of the baritone saxophones. “The band made its first visit to a local Cub pack taking some of the pocket trumpets, trumpets, baritones and euphoniums for them to try with the hope that we get some new players. And at a recent Coffee Morning in Bentley, Doncaster, we showcased the new instruments to encourage local young people to start their music journey with us. None of this would have been possible without the Better Youth Spaces grant.”
Make some noise for our creative kids and future music maestros!
Explore more youth services using Better Youth Spaces grants to support music and creativity: