Yorkshire Youth and Music

13/05/2026

✊ As it's May, this month’s Sounds Like is about collective action, solidarity and the power that comes from people coming together.

From protest songs to underground hip-hop and sprawling experimental compositions, these tracks remind us that music has always been a space for resistance, hope and shared voices.

Find the full playlist: https://www.yym.org.uk/Blog/sounds-like-people-power

There's also still a few days left to vote in The People's Fund!

If by email - make sure that you email [email protected], by 14 May, requesting to vote in the Kirklees round for Yorkshire Youth and Music and providing your name, age and address. You will then be sent a unique voting number.

If in person - Thursday 21 May 17:45 – 21:00 - Northfield Hall, 40 Norfolk Ave, Huddersfield HD2 1GS. Book a place and find out more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-peoples-fund-you-decide-event-kirklees-district-tickets-1985516969705?aff=oddtdtcreator

This funding will help us reach more young people with music activities, so please share with as many friends and family as possible.

11/05/2026

🚨 Yorkshire Youth and Music are excited to have got through to the final round of People's Fund, to be able to continue some of our work at Safe Space Studio.

However, the next round is down to the public vote. Please encourage everyone you know to support us by either registering to attend in person or to register by email to vote online.

The in person voting event for Kirklees is -
Thursday 21 May 17:45 – 21:00 - Northfield Hall, 40 Norfolk Ave, Huddersfield HD2 1GS. Book a place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-peoples-fund-you-decide-event-kirklees-district-tickets-1985516969705?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you can't make it in person please email [email protected], BY 14 MAY, requesting to vote in the Kirklees round for Yorkshire Youth and Music and providing your name, age and address. You will then be sent a unique voting number.

This funding will help us reach more young people with music activities, so please share with as many friends and family as possible.

04/05/2026

🎉 Join us for the Sound Steps sharing: an evening of new music from young people in Kirklees.

After 12 weeks of making, experimenting and building confidence together, participants take to the stage to share what they’ve created.

📍 Northern Quarter, Huddersfield
🗓 11 May
🕡 6:30 until 8:30pm

Delivered by Yorkshire Youth and Music at our Safe Space Studio in Huddersfield town centre, Sound Steps offers a supportive, non-judgemental environment where participants can build confidence, skills and routine through collaborative music-making with no previous musical experience needed.

Sound Steps is a partnership with Temple Wellbeing, Central HEaRt and C&K Careers, and is funded by Wellness Works and West Yorkshire Combined Authority and part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

01/05/2026

🚨 Yorkshire Youth and Music are excited to have got through to the final round of People's Fund, to be able to continue some of our work at Safe Space Studio.

However, the next round is down to the public vote. Please encourage everyone you know to support us by either registering to attend in person or to register by email to vote online.

The in person voting event for Kirklees is -
Thursday 21 May 17:45 – 21:00 - Northfield Hall, 40 Norfolk Ave, Huddersfield HD2 1GS. Book a place: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-peoples-fund-you-decide-event-kirklees-district-tickets-1985516969705?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you can't make it in person please email [email protected], requesting to vote in the Kirklees round for Yorkshire Youth and Music and providing your name, age and address. You will then be sent a unique voting number.

This funding will help us reach more young people with music activities, so please share with as many friends and family as possible.

14/04/2026

🎉 We spoke to Anne Sheard of Holme Valley Orchestra to find out more about their passion for music, their involvement in the orchestra, and how music makes lives better.

Read the full interview: https://www.yym.org.uk/Blog/music-makes-lives-better-holme-valley-orchestra

Holme Valley Orchestra recently raised funds to support us at their Carols & Barrels event last year, helping ensure continued access to music for young people in need. We’re extremely grateful to all our donors.

We spoke to Anne Sheard of Holme Valley Orchestra to find out more about their passion for music, their involvement in the orchestra, and how music makes lives better.

07/04/2026

✨ This month’s Sounds Like playlist comes from young people taking part in our Sound Steps programme. Bringing together a mix of genres, eras and moods, these selections reflect personal taste, shared listening and the moments music helps make sense of.

Listen to the Sounds Like... Sound Steps now: https://www.yym.org.uk/blog/sounds-like-sound-steps-participants

24/02/2026

We’re extremely grateful to the ASAMAA Charitable Trust for their generous £2,000 donation in support of Yorkshire Youth and Music.

This funding will help us continue our work with young people across Kirklees and beyond, particularly those facing barriers to education.

Through one-to-one music sessions with professional music leaders, young people are given space to express themselves, build confidence and find new routes forward – whether back into education, training or a more stable social life.

ASAMAA’s support will directly contribute to studio time, music leaders’ fees and the day-to-day costs of keeping our Huddersfield studio open and accessible. As a small team, this kind of trust-based funding makes a real difference, allowing us to focus our resources where they matter most: on young people and music-making.

Image description: three people are playing during a concert as an audience watch, with a Yorkshire Youth & Music banner in the background.

17/02/2026

🎉 This month the playlist comes from one of the participants who joins us at our weekly sessions. These songs offer a glimpse into the music that resonates with them: tracks chosen not for trend or genre, but for how they feel.

Find the full playlist: https://www.yym.org.uk/songs-that-stay-with-you

10/02/2026

✨ We spoke to Mia Millar, who previously attended sessions with us at the Safe Space Studio and is now studying music at university, about their sessions with us, and why they like making music.

Read the full interview: https://www.yym.org.uk/mia-millar-on-developing-their-skills

Access to the Safe Space Studio is made possible by the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund.

09/02/2026

Sound Steps is a new 12-week creative music project for young people aged 18–25 living in Kirklees who might be facing barriers to work, training or education.

Delivered by Yorkshire Youth and Music at our Safe Space Studio in Huddersfield town centre, the project offers a supportive, non-judgemental environment where participants can build confidence, skills and routine through collaborative music-making with no previous musical experience needed.

Sign up now: https://www.yym.org.uk/sound-steps

This activity is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

03/02/2026

Our Schools Partnership programme gives pupils practical, creative time in our Safe Space Studio: a dedicated environment where they can work one-to-one or in small groups with experienced music leaders.

You can now find out more about how we work with schools in a new interview with Evie and Jean from Newsome Academy, here: https://www.yym.org.uk/schools-partnerships

We're also excited that the film will also be shown as part of the upcoming Cultures of Film Exhibition at the University of Huddersfield.