Applications now open for Sound Connections’ Funding, Training and Mentoring Opportunities 2025-26
We’re pleased to announce a range of opportunities including funding, mentoring and training to support professionals and organisations enhance your practice, explore new ideas and support your development. Applications are now open for 2025-26.
Find more information about each programme, eligibility, and how to apply below.
Associates Training Programme 2025-26
Are you a Wired4Music member or alumni looking for paid work, training, and mentoring in music education and consultancy? Join Sound Connections Associates Training Programme – a 12-month opportunity to gain work opportunities. We are now recruiting 2 x Trainee Associates to join us from 2025-26.
Our Trainee Associates will work closely with the Sound Connections team on our ‘Insight’ (Sector Support) strand of work which supports the music education and cultural sector. On this programme you will:
• Learn the ropes of what we do
• Co-deliver consultancy projects
• Co-design and deliver training and events alongside the team
• Undertake an independent, self-led pilot project
Deadline for applications is Monday 14 July 2025 at 9am.
Activate
Activate is Sound Connections’ investment programme for Music Hubs across England to develop or deliver action-focussed work, with their young people. We are keen to support and invest in Hubs that already have a demonstrable commitment to, and practice of, youth voice and participation.
The scheme offers:
- £1,750 towards your project (we have 3 x grants available)
- Termly mentoring sessions with a Sound Connections team member specialising in youth voice and participation
- 2 x free places on youth voice training and network sessions in the 25-26 academic year
- A supported process throughout the lifespan of the investment cycle
*Deadline now extended* to Sunday 31st August, 11:59pm
Innovate
Are you a creative innovator or trail-blazing organisation working with children and young people? Do you have a spark of an idea and need funding and support in realising your ambition? Then Innovate is for you!
The scheme offers:
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to individuals and organisations with an annual turnover of less than £150k for projects and ideas that will:
- Test a new idea or innovative way of working for you or your organisation.
- Provide a new or innovative activity for young people aged 0-25 who would not normally have access to such activity.
- Offer an honest appraisal of the processes that you, your organisation and the children/young people have experienced – through creating new learning and models of best practice which can be shared across the music sector and beyond.
Projects can take place across England. Projects that will take place in Levelling Up for Culture Places or Priority Places as defined by Arts Council England are strongly encouraged.
The Innovate funding can support projects that take place between 1 September 2025 – 31 March 2026.
Deadline for applications – Monday 21 July 2025 at 9am.
Emerging Music Leader Scheme (Early Childhood Music)
If you want to work in the fascinating and thought-provoking world of music-making with children aged 0-5 then this opportunity is for you. Music with young children is enormously diverse and varied – we work with different musical styles and genres; different instruments, soundmakers, voices, bodies; sing, play, listen, move, improvise and compose; play with sand, play-doh, iPads, books, climbing frames and much, much more!
This career development opportunity is for anyone keen to develop their music leading practice with young children aged 0-5 and will take place over the period September 2025 – May 2026.
The scheme offers:
- Training sessions
- Paid shadowing placements
- Group coaching sessions
Deadline for applications: Monday 21 July 2025, 9am
If you have any questions, please contact emily@sound-connections.org.uk.
Mentoring Programme
Mentoring provides an opportunity to explore your professional needs and interests, and reflect on your practice in a safe and inclusive space with support from a mentor who will be experienced in your area of interest.
This programme is open to anyone who wishes to develop and deepen their work with children and young people. It is particularly relevant to musicians, music leaders, workshop leaders, teachers, creative practitioners, producers or managers who work with children and young people through music and the arts. This programme is open to anyone across England.
The scheme offers:
- Each mentee will be matched with a mentor with relevant knowledge and experience to help them learn, explore and reflect on their practice and career goals.
- Each mentee will receive up to three hours of mentoring from their mentor, online or in person, between September 2025 and April 2026.
Deadline for applications – Ongoing / Rolling opportunity.
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