Issuu

SECTOR RESOURCE:

YOUTH VOICE IN

MUSIC HUBS

-- 25 24 E ACTIVAT IMAGE CREDIT: LEWISHAM MUSIC

We are passionate about putting young people’s voices at the centre of our decision-making processes. The past two years has been a really exciting time for our charity, developing both our youth voice and youth governance. – Keith Sykes, CEO, Lewisham Music

Contents 4

Introduction to Activate

Case Studies (2024-25)

Leicestershire Music – Leics Connect

Lewisham Music – Voices of the Next GEN

Norfolk & Suffolk Music Hub – Young Ambassadors Programme

Sheffield Music Hub – Community of Practice Gathering

Introduction to

Activate IMAGE CREDIT: NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB

Activate is Sound Connections’ investment programme for Music Hub partnerships across England to develop or deliver action-focussed work with young people. Each year the programme supports Music Hubs with funding, mentoring, and training to develop innovative youth-led projects.* This resource distils the learning from the 2024-25 programme cycle into practical insights for the wider sector. *For further information on the Activate programme and application process, please visit our website. 4

Youth Voice: what is it and why does it matter? Youth voice and participation is about young people having a say in decisions that affect their own lives, from their education and wellbeing to the creative opportunities and services they access.

When we talk about organisations doing youth voice, we mean consulting young people, listening to what they have to say and acting on it together. It’s about remembering what it feels like to be listened to, included and empowered.

Youth voice and participation is a human right and is enshrined in the UN Articles on the Rights of the Child. Youth Voice makes our work more relevant, representative and relatable. It isn’t about young people being involved in a tokenistic way, it’s about genuine, two-way dialogue and collaboration between adults and young people.

By listening to young people and inviting them to shape their own experiences and opportunities, they feel more included and empowered, opening our eyes to fresh perspectives and new ways of doing things.1

Becko, L. and Raven, J. (2020) Youth Voice and Participation Handbook. Lawrence Becko Associates and Sound Connections. https://issuu.com/soundconnections/docs/youth_voice_and_participation_handbook 1

Case Studies (2024-25) IMAGE CREDIT: SHEFFIELD MUSIC HUB

The 2024–25 Activate programme provided investment to: Leicestershire Music Lewisham Music Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub Sheffield Music Hub Alongside this investment, each Hub received termly mentoring, access to youth voice training and networking sessions alongside the other grantees, and support from the Sound Connections team throughout the lifespan of their project. At the culmination of their projects, each Hub shared insights and findings with the wider sector through an online public event hosted by Sound Connections, ‘Youth Voice from a Music Hub perspective’ in September 2025. The following sections of this resource collate the content shared at this public event as well each Hub’s project evaluation, highlighting the learning and best practice they developed through the programme.

Hub Projects at a glance Leicestershire Music Leics Connect was a year‑long programme supporting 12 young musicians with mentoring, industry talks, training and real‑world performance opportunities. Designed in response to young people’s call for meaningful support and accessible creative career pathways, the project helped participants build confidence, skills and clear routes into creative industries.

It has completely transformed the way we gather youth voice. – Sarah Barton, Head of Leicestershire Music

Lewisham Music Voices of the Next GEN was a youth‑led radio initiative co‑created with young people across Lewisham, offering a safe space to curate, record and broadcast their own content. Young people developed technical, creative and leadership skills through hands‑on training, live broadcasts, and taking on roles across the station.

HUB PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

They really listened to us and made sure everything was clear – I felt like my ideas mattered. – Young participant, Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub

Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub Young Ambassadors was an inclusive, co‑created training programme for young people aged 16–25 with SEND, offering tailored support, hands‑on work experience and pathways into the creative industries. The programme helped participants gain confidence, communication skills and a stronger sense of identity, while fostering a safe and accessible environment for growth.

Sheffield Music Hub Community of Practice was a youth‑led project supporting young co‑curators to design and deliver two citywide events, strengthening youth voice and collaborative practice across the Hub. Participants developed facilitation, communication and leadership skills, while the Hub gained deeper insight into balancing guidance with youth‑led autonomy.

Leicestershire Music:

Leics Connect Project overview Leics Connect was a year‑long programme of mentoring, group support, industry talks, training sessions and performance opportunities designed to invest in young people who are interested in a creative career and who want to shape the future of music education in Leicester and Leicestershire. The idea for the project grew from Leicestershire Music’s Youth Ambassadors programme, launched in 2022. This work highlighted that more meaningful and authentic ways of gathering youth voice were needed - approaches that not only listened to young people but also offered them something valuable in return.

Funding through Activate enabled the Hub to provide targeted support. As Head of Leicestershire Music Sarah Barton explained, this would:

...allow the young people of Leicester and Leicestershire to have targeted support to learn about making a career out of their music and be mentored and supported to progress in the right direction with input from the industry. – Sarah Barton, Head of Leicestershire Music

LEICESTERSHIRE MUSIC: LEICS CONNECT

Activities and evidence of need The project emerged from feedback gathered through the Hub’s Inclusion Lead, who noted that young musicians including singer‑songwriters, composers, producers and DJs were looking for ways to connect with one another, with the local music scene, and with the wider industry. Young people identified that “real life” performance opportunities and support were lacking, and that these gaps were limiting their creative development and progression. Working with a cohort of 12 young people, Leics Connect offered a combination of mentoring, workshops, creative development, and industry engagement opportunities that responded directly to these needs. IMAGE CREDIT: LEICESTERSHIRE MUSIC HUB

LEICESTERSHIRE MUSIC: LEICS CONNECT

The Project: Focussed on a tailored response to the young people’s needs Through intensive work with a small cohort, the programme provided the opportunities young people said were missing. As the team described, working closely with the group meant they could “really listen to them as they let us know along the way what they needed and wanted.”

Delivered industry‑informed training, mentoring and careers support Participants took part in talks from industry professionals, received mentoring, and engaged in training designed to support their understanding of creative career pathways. Young people also co‑designed and attended the Leicester Music Careers Conference, taking part in a day of industry‑standard panels and discussions shaped around their interests and questions

Provided real‑world performance opportunities The programme responded directly to young people’s desire for more ‘real life’ performance opportunities. Six participants secured paid performance slots at Leicester’s Riverside Festival (with an audience footfall of around 30,000). This success has led to the Hub being invited to return next year and being offered performance slots at major city‑wide festivals

Embedded youth voice into organisational development The project helped transform Leicestershire Music’s approach to gathering youth voice. Young people highlighted barriers to continuing music‑making post‑school, including lack of access to rehearsal space and equipment. In response, the Hub has introduced a new progression bursary to help address these challenges.

LEICESTERSHIRE MUSIC: LEICS CONNECT

Impact and learning The project created meaningful outcomes for young people and generated significant organisational learning:

6 participants secured paid performances

Young people co‑designed and attended the Leicester Music Careers Conference, influencing the programme content

at Leicester’s Riverside Festival, leading to invitations to appear at further major festivals

Participants gained confidence and took significant personal and creative steps; one young person released their own music after attending an industry talk, while another who had been avoiding school and rarely speaking out, performed four original songs on a professional stage and recorded them in a studio

The year‑long structure enabled

The Hub gained new insight into youth voice

deep listening and

responsive support reshaping its approach and introducing a progression bursary in response to barriers highlighted by young people

ensuring genuinely needs.

that opportunities reflected participants’

Lewisham Music:

Voices of the NEXT GEN Project overview: Lewisham Music’s Voices of the Next GEN project built on the Hub’s commitment to placing youth voice at the centre of its work by supporting the development of Radio Lewisham - a new, diverse, youth-led radio station that was part of Lewisham’s Young Mayor Jentai’s 2023 manifesto: ‘A platform for all young people in the borough to share their views and creativity.’

I have never experienced such intense support for everything you do and they push you out your comfort zone and get the best out of you. – Young Participant

IMAGE CREDIT: LEWISHAM MUSIC

LEWISHAM MUSIC: VOICES OF THE NEXT GEN

IMAGE CREDIT: LEWISHAM MUSIC

The Project: Created a safe space for youth‑led content creation The radio platform became a supportive environment where young people could express their views, respond to issues affecting them, and make work they were proud of, as they participated in workshops, live broadcasts, and creative sessions. Following a studio-upgrade which created a professional-standard space, these sessions allowed participants to curate, script, record, and broadcast their own content, ranging from discussions on human rights to music showcases and conversations around brain health. Live youth-led broadcasts also featured at community events such as the Bellingham Festival and the Don’t Stop Your Future Block Party, sharing young people’s voices with wider audiences.

Developed young leaders and created opportunities for leadership Leadership opportunities were intentionally built into all activities, giving young people meaningful responsibilities and authentic influence over the station’s direction and identity. As skills and confidence grew, young people began taking on leadership roles within the station, curating shows, mentoring peers, shaping the station schedule and contributing to decision‑making processes.

I have a safe space where I can express my opinion. – Young participant

LEWISHAM MUSIC: VOICES OF THE NEXT GEN

Delivered structured training and development in broadcasting and media Young people took part in training covering technical desk operation, presenting, interviewing, and programme planning. This included one‑to‑one support, an in‑house 8‑week broadcasting course for ages 11–18, and tailored mentoring. Workshops with Lewisham Virtual School, DRUMBEAT Special School, BEin and Alchemy enabled young people of different ages and abilities to develop radio, media and digital storytelling skills, culminating in live broadcasts produced entirely by participants. Seven young people also became “Brain Health Champions” through a commissioned series with the Youth Involvement Lab, taking full ownership of researching, planning and presenting four themed shows.

Built inclusive partnerships to widen access and reach The project was delivered in collaboration with a wide network of partners across youth services, education, housing, arts organisations and the creative industries. Key supporters included the Young Mayor’s Team, Bloomsbury Institute, Maritime Radio, Undeniable, Midi Music, Sister Midnight, Phoenix Housing, Lewisham Virtual School, DRUMBEAT Special School, The Horniman, and the Bellingham Community Project. These relationships ensured equity, access, and diverse participation across the borough.

LEWISHAM MUSIC: VOICES OF THE NEXT GEN

Impact and learning The project created meaningful and lasting impact for young people, the organisation, and the wider community:

104

young people

40+

youth-led shows and projects

directly engaged in workshops, live broadcasts and creative sessions

were produced, with consistent feedback from participants confirming that their voices influenced the content and direction

Professional-standard facilities, and progression pathways

Young people designed, produced, and broadcast their own shows, addressing topics from:

were catalysed by the project, creating a foundation for the longterm sustainability of Radio Lewisham

Young people reported increases in

leadership skills and confidence

human rights mental health

New pathways into training, advocacy, and industry-connected opportunities were created for young people through working with partners organisations

Participants moved from

learners

leaders 16

by: training peers curating schedules leading workshops

LEWISHAM MUSIC: VOICES OF THE NEXT GEN

IMAGE CREDIT: LEWISHAM MUSIC

They have given me the freedom to choose what I wanted to do, while giving me ideas if I am stuck. – Young participant

I have never experienced such intense support for everything you do and they push you out your comfort zone and get the best out of you. – Young participant

IMAGE CREDIT:NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB

Norfolk & Suffolk Music Hub:

Young Ambassadors Programme Project overview: The Young Ambassadors Programme ran from November 2024 to August 2025, offering a comprehensive year‑long training programme for young people aged 16– 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The project set out to provide participants with the opportunity to gain vital skills, build confidence, and experience work in the creative industries.

[The Programme] allows us to continue our commitment to fostering youth voice and participation, ensuring our initiatives are shaped by and for the young people we serve… we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every participant can thrive. – Alison Brain, Head of Music Service and Music Hub 18

NORFOLK & SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB: YOUNG AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

Activities and evidence of need: The programme was informed by learning from a previous Young Ambassadors strand delivered as part of SENDfest, an inclusive work experience opportunity co‑designed with young people with SEND. Engagement during SENDfest - where 61% of the young participants identified as SEND, not in education, employment or training, at risk of exclusion, or young carers - highlighted a significant demand among young people with SEND and their families for quality inclusive and supportive work experiences across the cultural sector. Further need was identified through the Family Voice network, with families emphasising the value of well‑structured, inclusive work placements:

I felt so completely at ease leaving my young person with you knowing that their quirks would be understood. – Parent / Carer [via the Family Voice network]

Please let us know of any work experience opportunities you will be organising in the future as we will 110% want to be involved. – Parent / Carer [via the Family Voice network]

Working in partnership with local organisations, the Hub set out to deliver a year‑long training programme, written and devised by the young people themselves to ensure that the 35 participating young people would have the tools that they need to succeed in the creative industries.

NORFOLK & SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB: YOUNG AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

The Project:

Delivered a co‑created training and development programme Young people shaped the programme’s content, contributing their perspectives to create a training offer that reflected their needs and ambitions, combining workshops, hands‑on training sessions, and collaborative projects delivered both online and in‑person.

Provided pathways into the creative industries Training sessions explored a range of creative industry roles - including stage management, events, hospitality, sound and lighting, security, and communications - giving participants insight into the breadth of opportunities available. During the summer term, young people had the opportunity to gain practical, in‑person work experience and to work towards their Arts Award Gold.

Offered individualised and inclusive support The programme placed particular emphasis on tailoring support to each participant. Bespoke options were created for young people with complex needs, and the hybrid delivery model ensured that sessions remained accessible and flexible. There was a considered emphasis on creativity and building on the prior knowledge of ad-hoc work experience opportunities for young people with SEND.

Provided professional development through partnerships Working with local and national industry leads, the programme connected participants to creative professionals and organisations through in-person work experience opportunities during the summer, as well as training sessions led directly by partner organisations.

NORFOLK & SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB: YOUNG AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

Impact and learning The Young Ambassadors Programme was inclusive, empowering, and deeply impactful, providing participants with a sense of purpose and belonging.

High quality training

Host organisations praised the programme’s

and

thoughtful structure & meaningful contributions made by young ambassadors

mentoring was instrumental in preparing young people for their placements and enabling them to thrive

Feedback from young people, families and host organisations was

Participants reported:

increased self-esteem

overwhelmingly

improved communication

positive

a stronger sense of identity

IThe training programme has been amazing! They really listened to us and made sure everything was clear – I felt like my ideas mattered. – Young participant

NORFOLK & SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB: YOUNG AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

IMAGE CREDIT: NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB

[The project was] nothing short of transformative – empowering young people with SEND to grow in confidence, develop vital skills and find their voice within the music and creative industries. – Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub

Being part of the working group has helped me say what I think in a safe space – sharing ideas and listening to others too. – Young participant

Sheffield Music Hub:

Community of Practice Gathering Project overview: The Community of Practice Gathering brought together young people in Sheffield to design and deliver two youth‑led events during the 2024–25 academic year. The project aimed to place youth voice at the heart of the Hub’s work and to strengthen a growing community of practice.

IMAGE CREDIT: SHEFFIELD MUSIC HUB

SHEFFIELD MUSIC HUB: COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE GATHERING

Reflecting on the opportunity, Heather Burge, Inclusion Lead at Sheffield Music Hub, explained that the programme aiming to further develop the Hub’s community of practice and really place youth voice at the heart of their work, by offering:

...the opportunity to learn with peers to help us deepen our work with and for children and young people across Sheffield.

– Heather Burge, Inclusion Lead at Sheffield Music Hub

Activities and evidence of need: The project focussed on supporting young co‑curators to design and lead two youth‑led events, while the Hub team used the process to better understand what young people wanted and needed from these spaces. One of the participants explained that he had wanted to get involved because he had benefitted greatly from projects and events hosted by the Music Hub and partner organisations, so felt as though it would be important for him to become more involved as he gets older. Working alongside two young co‑curators, the Hub team gathered learning from both events, observing changes in confidence, leadership, facilitation skills and the dynamics of working with different young people across the academic year.

I felt I was a lot more confident and I did a good job of creating that atmosphere… I think I learned a lot about how to work WITH someone... and I think I wouldn’t have managed even being close to that without the overwhelming positive environment [Heather and Rory] have created.” – Young co-curator

SHEFFIELD MUSIC HUB: COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE GATHERING

The Project: Developed youth‑led decision‐making and event design Across both events, the young co‑curators took responsibility for shaping content, leading discussions, and supporting each other. The process provided opportunities to learn about facilitation, collaboration, communication, and the world of music education more widely.

Reflected on learning from working with young people The team recognised that the biggest learning came from the first event, which involved a steep learning curve. In the second phase, going from having one cocurator to two meant manging the co-curators’ different personalities. This required careful boundary‑setting and communication. Staff reflected on the importance of knowing when to give young people “free reign” and when to guide more closely, while also recognising that they could step back more as the process progressed.

Strengthened approaches to engaging young people The Hub refined their approach to advertising and social media between the two events, benefiting from having two co‑curators contributing their ideas. Recruitment for attendees drew largely from young people already known to the Hub or previous participants, highlighting limitations in reach as well as the success of attracting highly motivated young people.

I feel as though I have developed my organisational skills greatly from being involved in this event…I have really felt listened to and respected. – Young co-curator

SHEFFIELD MUSIC HUB: COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE GATHERING

Impact and learning The project created meaningful and lasting impact for young people, the organisation, and the wider community:

Leadership development,

Increased:

connection & collaboration

confidence independence

between participants

professionalism

Stronger interview processes and improvements in advertising and social media planning for youth‑led events

in one co-curator’s facilitation and event leadership skills throughout the project

Increased understanding and constructive engagement from one co-curator, who gained trust as the project progressed, becoming more informed on the music education landscape and the wider financial constraints within the sector, and more positively involved as a result

Clear appetite from young people to be part of future co‑curation opportunities

Deeper organisational understanding, when working with young people with differing personalities and needs, of how to balance:

autonomy

+ trust

with

guidance + intervention

IMAGE CREDIT:NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK MUSIC HUB

A big thank you To our funders Arts Council England and Youth Music for supporting Activate in 2024-2025.

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Youth Voice in Music Hubs