Young Sounds UK (Awards for Young Musicians)

Thrive programme (Robert Lewin Scholarships and Named Awards)

Means-tested awards of £250 to £3,000 for young musicians aged 7 to 17 from lower-income families across the UK, spent flexibly over 12 months on things like instruments, equipment, lessons, transport and exam fees. Young people on the programme also get free workshops, Thrive Days, mentoring, online sessions, free tickets and access to YuStudio, with travel and accommodation for opportunities covered. All genres are supported, but applicants should be at intermediate or advanced level and have been learning for at least a year. Applications are accepted at any time, with three awarding rounds a year.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £250 – £3,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Young instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, producers and singer/songwriters aged 7 to 17 (from their 7th birthday up to the day before their 18th) who live and study in the UK, including the Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Those who have lived in the UK for under three years must meet one of the stated residence conditions (for example three years' residence in the British Islands, certain EEA/Swiss nationals, refugees or their children, Calais Leave, Ukraine schemes, or Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area), or contact Young Sounds
Applicants should be intermediate or advanced, learning for at least a year; no formal exams are needed and all genres are treated equally
Families must be on a lower income: eligible if total parent/carer income is under £35,000 a year, may be eligible between £35,000 and £41,000, and less likely above £41,000, with the number of dependants taken into account
An appropriate adult (parent, guardian, adult family member, teacher, social worker or other trusted adult) must sign the application to vouch for eligibility

What it funds

To help musically talented young people from lower-income families develop their musical potential, with funding used flexibly over 12 months:

Instruments
Equipment
Lessons
Transport
Exam fees
Free musical opportunities: workshops, Thrive Days, performance platforms, online events, mentoring, careers advice, free tickets and access to YuStudio (travel and accommodation covered)

What it will not fund

Reimbursing items or other musical costs that have already been paid for
Costs involving an international transfer of money or purchases from overseas that may incur import duties, taxes or charges
Academic school fees
Higher education fees
School orchestra and choir tours, some other courses and foreign school trips
Music therapy
Beginner-level musicians
Young people already on the Young Sounds Connect programme

How to apply

Check eligibility on the Thrive page or the application site, or complete the eligibility form if unsure
Register on the Thrive application site (Survey Monkey Apply) and complete Stage 1; the Thrive team reviews it, which can take a few days, and tells you if you can go on
Complete the rest of the application in steps at your own pace, with guidance at each step
Have an appropriate adult sign the application to vouch for your eligibility
External adjudicators decide at one of three awarding rounds a year (winter, late spring, autumn) and set the award amount
If successful, decide with Young Sounds how to use the funding over 12 months; payments go directly to the supplier, teacher or organisation

If the online form is a barrier, contact Young Sounds and they will find another way to receive your application.

You can reapply after 12 months, whether or not you were successful, if still eligible.

Have ready

Note: No documents are listed; the application must be signed by an appropriate adult vouching for financial eligibility.

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