Youth Music, a charity that seeks to help marginalised young people make and monetise music, has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign.
‘Rescue the Roots’ aims to raise £1m to combat the crisis threatening grassroots music projects across the UK.
The campaign has been launched in light of new research which shows:
- Two in five (41%) youth music projects at risk of closure – an increase of 17% from 2024 (24%)
- 54% of Youth Music’s funded partners have a waiting list of young people that want to take part but can’t due to lack of funds – an increase of 4% from 2024 (50%)
- Youth Music is able to support fewer than one in five (18%) of the applications it receives, leaving over 260,000 young people without access to music-making, creative development and potential pathways into the music industries
- The financial position of 41% of Youth Music’s funded partners is set to get worse over the next 12 months, an increase of 8% from 2024 (34%), with over a quarter (28%) uncertain about the future
Based on this research, Youth Music predicts that in ten years, young people across eight UK regions will lose access to grassroots youth music projects.
Individuals and organisations are asked to donate to the campaign. Youth Music will match every pound raised up to £1 million; the £2 million will be distributed to projects providing crucial support for over 18,000 young people in 2025.
Supporting the campaign, Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens marks its urgency with new tattoo, designed by partner Jade Thirlwall. Stephens explained: ‘The UK music scene is in big trouble. Grassroots music projects are places for young people to build community, hone their passions and find purpose, and yet they are closing down at a worrying rate. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of organisations like Youth Music and the grassroots music projects they fund.
‘That’s why I’m proud to support the Rescue the Roots campaign, and why I’m making my support permanent with this new tattoo. Rescue the Roots isn’t just a phrase, it’s a call to arms and a plea for fundraising support – it is the most important thing we can do to safeguard the next generation of musical talent. If we don't, there will be no new artists, no fresh sounds, no future for UK music. Please help us Rescue the Roots before it’s too late.’
A video about the campaign can be seen here.
Donations to the campaign can be made here.
