GrantRadar

MK Community Foundation

Milton Keynes Youth Music Fund

MK Community Foundation's Youth Music Fund backs group music-making projects for young people under 21 in Milton Keynes, helping them build confidence, friendships and skills by making music together. It is applied for through the Foundation's Sapling Grants (£750-£5,000, monthly deadline) or Oak Grants (up to £15,000, quarterly deadlines). Projects must be open to all, at least 90% of participants must be under 21, and the fund does not cover dance or individual lessons.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£750 – £15,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Constituted, not-for-profit groups and organisations that support young people through music, based in or benefiting Milton Keynes (the Milton Keynes unitary authority area): unincorporated associations, registered charities, CIOs, sports clubs, and faith groups whose project is community-focused rather than promoting religion
  • CICs only for start-up costs with prior approval
  • Organisations with income over £5,000 must be registered with the relevant regulator; reserves should not exceed 12 months' running costs; at least three unrelated trustees/committee members and a bank account with two unrelated signatories; no outstanding monitoring on previous grants

What it funds

  • Not-for-profit group music projects for young people under 21 in any genre or style, for example a choir, a band or a production project, centred on group participation and shared experiences
  • Projects must be open to anyone who wants to take part and must not yet have started

What it will not fund

  • Dance
  • Individual lessons or training
  • Projects for a select few rather than open to all
  • Projects already started (retrospective costs)
  • Core/running costs, except where essential to project delivery
  • Statutory activities, or equipment that becomes the property of a statutory body
  • Deficit funding or loan repayment
  • Unspecified expenditure, contingencies and miscellaneous costs
  • Events primarily for fundraising
  • Re-granting of funds
  • Food, drink, travel or accommodation unless vital to the project
  • Individuals, for-profit organisations, political parties and statutory bodies

How to apply

  1. Check the project meets the Youth Music Fund criteria (under-21s at least 90% of participants, open to all, group music-making)
  2. Choose the route: Sapling Grants (£750-£5,000) or Oak Grants (up to £15,000)
  3. Read the programme's application guidelines and the grants policy
  4. Apply through the online grants portal by the programme deadline (Sapling: last Friday of each month; Oak: quarterly, next deadline 11 December 2026)

If unsure whether the project fits, contact Damon Fox at damon.fox@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk.

Have ready

  • Signed governing document or constitution (name, purposes, asset lock, not-for-profit)
  • List of at least three unrelated trustees or committee members
  • Most recent annual accounts (or bank statement if under one year old)
  • Bank statement from the last 3 months showing an organisational account with two unrelated signatories
  • Equal opportunities policy
  • Child and adult safeguarding policies with a designated local lead

Cost quotes may be requested.

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