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ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Arts has been successful in securing just under £100k of funding from Youth Music, for a 2 year programme of activity for displaced young people across ßÙßÇÂþ»­. Youth Music is a national music charity that invest in music-making projects for young people and along with generous additional match funding from partners, Alliance for Better Care (NHS), Big Leaf Foundation and Arts Partnership ßÙßÇÂþ»­, the funding will enable ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Arts to expand its current delivery programmes ensuring we are able to build on this worthwhile and much needed provision.

The project, which is fully funded for the next 2 years will be called I Speak Music:Next generation with the aim to improve participants' musical skills, improve participants' wellbeing and develop participants' engagement within their host communities. The programme will include a range of activities including music lessons and both online and face to face music ensembles for children who have asylum-seeker or refugee status.

Project lead Jim Pinchen said 'We are absolutely delighted that Youth Music have awarded ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Arts with this grant. The funding will allow us to expand our music programmes for children who are living in ßÙßÇÂþ»­ after being internationally displaced due of war, persecution and/or climate change.'

Sarah Lee, Service Manager for ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Art said "We are so proud of our work with displaced communities across ßÙßÇÂþ»­, and this funding will have a huge impact in helping us to build a programme that reaches more young people and is lasting. We are hugely grateful to Youth Music and our local partners for their support and for providing funding".