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 to test it? Then Innovate is for you.

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!

Innovate is Sound Connections’ small‑grants programme, offering four grants of £2,000 to individuals and grassroots organisations to pilot new music ideas with children and young people aged 0–25. 

The programme is designed to support early‑stage, exploratory projects that test new approaches, reach new audiences or develop your practice. We’re particularly interested in projects that centre inclusion, participation and learning. 

Deadline for applications – Monday 29 June 2026 at 9am. 

What the programme offers

Successful applicants will receive:

  • Up to £2,000 to support a new or innovative music project
  • Support and mentoring from Sound Connections staff and associates
  • Free access to Sound Connections training and networking events throughout the programme.

Projects should focus on learning and reflection as well as delivery. Grantees will be asked to share a short case study at the end of the project so learning can be shared across the sector. Find out more about some of the projects we’ve previously supported here.

Who can apply 

Innovate is open to: 

  • Individuals and organisations working across England 
  • Applicants with an annual turnover under £150k 
  • Projects working with children and young people aged 0–25 

Projects that work with underrepresented communities, test inclusive practice or explore new ways of working are especially encouraged. 

Who can apply

To find out more, including eligibility criteria and application guidance, read more bellow.

Deadline for applications – Monday 29 June 2026 at 9am. 

Download the guidelines here and the application form here. 

Projects must take place between 1 September 2026 – 31 March 2027. 

Over the last few years, Innovate has supported: 

  • A Music Therapy project in Basildon where children with additional needs composed original classroom music resources and co-led peer activities. Read the case study. 
  • A music tech project on the isle of Wight where young people created environmental soundscapes and tracks using iPads, contributing to a digital resource pack for schools. Read the case study. 
  • Inclusive music-making sessions in Newham for young adults with PMLD/SLD and their communities, led by a multi-level team of artists. Read the case study. 
  • An Early Years gender-inclusive practice music-making project in the Isle of Wight. Read the case study. 
  • A lyric-writing project exploring diverse local history in Newham, London. Read the case study. 
  • Development of a young leaders progression pathway for young musicians in Sunderland. Read the case study. 
  • Skills training and mentoring for care experienced young people in Hillingdon, London. Read the case study. 
  • Singing workshops for Afghan and Syrian children and parents to improve language skills and social integration. Read the case study. 
  • Be The Band to pilot their innovative rock band workshops with neurodivergent learners at two specialist autism schools. Read the case study. 
  • The development and sharing of inclusive practices around youth voice and singing through vocal resources chosen by disabled and non-disabled young people in Lambeth. Read the case study 
  • A project inviting lockdown babies aged 0-2 years old and their parents and carers for musical sessions, based around wellbeing and mental health with an emphasis on equality and diversity. 
  • A one-week intensive bootcamp for string players ages 7-13 where new ways of self-expression were tried. 
  • A song-writing project working with young people who are at risk of or have been a victim of serious youth violence. 
  • The piloting of an LGBTQ+ choir with an emphasis on reaching LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers. 
  • Youth-led programme to test collaborative performance events with young refugees and asylum seekers. 
  • Development of a programme for young disabled children and their siblings, alongside a CPD programme for early years practitioners. 
  • A youth-led research programme investigating the roots, social significance and educational capacity of drill music. 
  • A community choir of boys and young men, particularly targeted at those in transition from primary-secondary school. 
  • A project bringing samba drumming into community spaces which cater to the needs of young people with a migration background. 

Thank you for your support as it has enabled us to produce a pilot project that empowered both the MMS and consequently the Hub to develop several strategic areas (e.g. youth voice, inclusive singing) and provide much needed help to schools in difficult times. It also provided MMS with the resource, space, and guidance to trial new forms of practice, to make mistakes and learn from them, which to me seems to sum up the meaning of the Innovate programme.

Music Making SENse (MMS) - Innovate Grantee 2021