EH32 Live Youth Music & Arts Project

Aim

Helping young people build confidence, form bands, learn music and live sound skills, and access lasting creative opportunities.

Support EH32 Live Youth Music & Arts 2026

We're delighted to be running the EH32 Live Youth Music & Arts Project again this year, continuing our mission to support young people in East Lothian to develop their creativity, build confidence, and become part of a sustainable local music scene.

The project is designed to help young musicians form new bands, develop their skills, and connect with ongoing music opportunities within the community so they can continue performing, creating, and growing long after the project ends.

This year's programme will include a 4-day intensive "Build a Band" workshop, where participants will work together to form bands, rehearse, write music, and prepare for live performance. Alongside this, participants will take part in creative sessions led by an art tutor, designing band logos, merchandise, promotional materials, and other fun creative projects.

We're also excited to be introducing a brand-new Youth Live Sound & Stage Management Initiative. This programme is aimed at young people interested in the technical side of live events. Participants will learn how live shows operate behind the scenes, including stage management, artist liaison, technical specifications, and live sound engineering. Working alongside an experienced youth music tutor and mentor, they'll gain hands-on experience supporting bands and learning valuable skills that can lead to further opportunities in the music and events industry.

This summer, we aim to support 30–35 young people through a range of opportunities, including equipment loans, youth music projects, live sound training, mentoring, rehearsals, and live performance opportunities. Our goal is not only to help young people develop musical and creative skills, but also to build confidence, friendships, teamwork, and pathways into further education, employment, volunteering, and community arts activities.

In previous years, much of our funding has come from ELJam and The Arts Council. However, due to increasing demand and tighter funding budgets across the sector, support available this year has been significantly reduced. As always, we continue to invest funding from our sponsors and contribute ourselves to ensure these opportunities remain available for local young people.

To help bridge the gap, we're launching this fundraiser with a target of £6700

Every penny raised will help us provide:

- Professional music tutors and mentors

- Instruments and equipment loans

- Arts and design workshops

- Live sound and stage management training

- Rehearsal and performance opportunities

- Resources that help young people stay involved in music and the arts beyond the project

We believe that access to music and the arts can change lives. It builds confidence, develops teamwork and communication skills, improves wellbeing, and creates lasting friendships and opportunities.

If you value youth music, creativity, and giving young people positive opportunities to learn and grow, please consider making a donation. No matter the amount, every contribution makes a difference and helps us continue providing these opportunities for the next generation.

If our fundraising target is exceeded, all additional funds will be invested directly into future youth music provision, including next year's EH32 Live programme, or used to create additional opportunities for young people during this year's project.

Thank you for your support and for helping us keep youth music alive and accessible in our community.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd August 2026 at 7:00pm