We’ve been developing this programme since January 2009: it helps young people with a real spark of musical talent, who have started to learn an instrument at school through the state funded Wider Opportunities initiative, but whose families can’t afford to support their lessons once this funding ends.

Each young person identified receives weekly individual tuition for at least two years, plus mentoring from another professional musician.

Thanks to increased funding, the programme is expanding all the time, and we’re now helping young people across 15 areas of England. We’re also beginning to develop this work in Wales.

 

Furthering Talent is very different from our Awards programme: instead of families applying to us for support, we actively seek out young people whom our partners tell us are both talented and in need of our help. This approach means that close communication with everyone involved is even more important; we liaise with parents and carers, teachers, mentors, schools, music services and, most importantly, the young musicians themselves. AYM has invested considerable time and real care in these relationships, and is committed to developing its support for each young person and responding to their individual needs and concerns. We believe that this valuable work merits significant input from our team.