Out of school programmes
We support several out of school programmes to engage children and young people in arts and cultural activity.
The programmes
Each year, the National Youth Dance Company, co-funded with the Department for Education (DfE) provides 30 talented 16–19-year-old performers with intensive training and performance opportunities led by world-leading choreographers.
National Youth Music Organisations provide opportunities for thousands of young people to take part in making and enjoying music.
Jointly funded with Department for Education (DfE), the programme gives 13–16-year-olds across the country the opportunity to study subjects they love at their local university, college or cultural institution, for free.
Youth Music’s vision is that life-changing music-making is available to all children and young people. Through National Lottery funding, we currently contribute £10 million a year to fund 300 projects nationwide, supporting children and young people to make music and develop their skills.
Since June 2017 we’ve worked with BookTrust to deliver the Early Years Access to Literature (EYAL) Fund. Over £5 million per year supports BookTrust in its mission is to inspire a love of reading in children, both for the pleasure that reading brings, and in recognition of the positive impact that literacy has on children and young people.
Arts Award supports young people who want to deepen their engagement with the arts, build creative and leadership skills, and to achieve a national qualification.