Youth Music - BongoClub.org.uk

A guide to securing funding for music-making projects in early years settings

It can be difficult to find the time and resources to include music-making activities in early years settings. Securing funding for a specific project is one way to ensure that good quality, regular activities can be provided for children, covering costs such as instrument purchase and recruiting an early years musician to provide the sessions.

Fundraising is all about selling good ideas to people who have the means to make it happen. Writing a good application is just one way for you and your organisation to make a strong case for support. A good application will also considerably increase the chance of you getting those vital funds. Think about the hundreds, possibly thousands, of requests funders receive each year, and turn down. Not because they are always bad ideas, but because the proposal is poorly written.
 
There is no magic formula for writing a winning application but by following these simple basics, you can significantly improve your chances of fundraising success.
 

1. Unique Selling Points – Why is your work different to everything else that is out there and why is it so important that your project gets funded.
2. Facts & Figures – This will back up your case considerably. Funders will be more likely to engage with you if they can clearly see what the problem is.
3. Your Organisation – Show that you are the right people to tackle the issue. Does your organisation have a successful track record in its field?
4. Planning – Be clear about what you will do, how you will do it, when it will happen and who is responsible for it. Remember that you will also need to report back on the impacts of your work to funders if you are successful.
5. Budgets – This also tells part of your story, so it needs to be clear and comprehensive. You should also include any income a project may generate.
6. Your Donors – Research them thoroughly. You would be surprised at how many applications have to be thrown away by funders because they do no match their funding criteria. Make sure your “ask” is also relevant in terms of size and/or resources. And give them all the info they want, in the format they want it and when they want it.
7. Back Up Literature – Examples include promotional material, brochures, press cuttings etc. These can significantly enhance an application but depending on the funder you may not be required to send this additional information in the first instance. CHECK POINT 6!!

Youth Music First Steps Open Programme

One source of funding to consider is the Youth Music First Steps programme, which has been created to encourage and support regular creative music-making activities for children between 0 and 5 years, especially those who would otherwise not get the opportunity to take part.

Youth Music wants to support activities that are fun and stimulate children as well as encourage parents, carers and families to continue music making with their children.

What Funding is Available?

Grants are available of between £5,000 and £15,000 for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months.

What Will First Steps Support?

Proposals should include:

• Creative music activities incorporating simple instruments, voice and movement.
• Weekly, progressive group music making and music of more than one culture.
• Structured music activities that are planned to develop children’s skills and lead to a smooth transition to primary school.
• Sharing music making with parents and carers. First Steps aims to influence parents and carers to show that music making is a fun learning tool and a natural part of growing.
• Involvement of a skilled early years music specialist who is prepared to work with trainees (staff or parents) to hand on skills.

Who Can Apply?

• Nursery schools
• Local authority departments, for example Early Years
• Development Childcare Partnerships
• Local Sure Start programmes
• Sure Start Children’s Centres
• Music organisations
• Music Services or trusts
• Other organisations that demonstrate a commitment to music-making experiences for children between 0–5 years

Your organisation has to be more than one year old and have audited or certified accounts in order to apply.

How to Apply

Please apply online at www.youthmusic.org.uk

This is only an overview of the First Steps programme. For more information please visit the ‘Looking for Funding’ section of the website.

For an example of a project that has been funded by the First Steps programme, please click here.

MusicLeader.net

More information about securing funding can be found in the 'Project Management' section of the MusicLeader.net website.