It’s nearly the start of the new financial year and the Youth Music Initiative (YMI)’s Informal Sector fund will be re-opening for 2008-09 on 1 April.  The first deadline for large grants is Monday 7 April 2008 – less than a month away! 

2007-08 has been a busy but successful year for the YMI in general and the Informal Sector fund in particular.  Almost £1.9 million was requested from the fund and we were able to award £725,647 to over 50 organisations. 

Competition for the fund is high but we still want to hear from everyone with a great idea for creative music making which aims to widen opportunities for young people.  We’re looking for programmes that involve high quality and sustainable activity in any musical genre.   

Large Grants		Small Grants
Deadlines	7 April 2008 7 July 2008 6 October 2008	Deadlines	No deadlines Applications accepted at any time from 1 April 2008 until 12 January 2009
Level of grants	£5,001 – £30,000	Level of grants	£500 - £5,000
Partnership Funding required	Minimum 10%, in cash	Partnership Funding required	Minimum 10%, in cash
Length of programme	6 months – 2 years	Length of programme	No minimum length of project

 Who can apply? 

Any organisation working in the informal sector who wants to programme musical activity for young people can apply.  This includes local authorities but remember that Instrumental Services who receive the YMI Formula Fund are not eligible to apply.
 
How to apply

Full guidelines for the Informal Sector fund can be downloaded from the YMI funding pages of the Scottish Arts Council website.  Application forms can be found on the general Scottish Arts Council funding pages. 

If you need any help or advice contact Jennifer McGlone at jennifer.mcglone@scottisharts.org.uk or ring 0131 240 2466.

Training and CPD fund

Don’t forget that the Training and CPD fund will also reopen from 1 April 2008.  More details can be found on the YMI funding pages for organisations and the YMI funding pages for individuals. 

Please contact Beth Nuttall, Youth Music Administrator at beth.nuttall@scottisharts.org.uk for further information on any YMI funds.

 Visit the YMI pages of the Scottish Arts Council website at www.scottisharts.org.uk/ymi.