Help secure the future of Grounded Sounds and bridge the funding gap, ensuring over 150 young people per year are supported with music.
Help keep Grounded Sounds open!
Every year, Grounded Sounds supports over 150 young people across South London with free music workshops, mentoring and career pathways into the music industry. But with recent funding cuts across the arts, our charity is now at risk of closure.
Without urgent support, young people who rely on this space to learn, to create and to feel heard, could lose access to these vital opportunities.
What’s at stake
The UK’s funding landscape for the arts is increasingly dire, with sustained cuts leaving many organisations—especially those focused on education and community access—struggling to survive.
Working-class talent remains hugely underrepresented in the creative industries and 93% of schoolchildren are excluded from arts due to lack of funding (Child of the North and Centre for Young Lives).
Grounded Sounds is a South London based music charity working at the intersection of music education and music industry. Our work is unique in its close networks with the music industry, and this alignment offers young people, who may not otherwise have access, the opportunity to be heard, celebrated and supported in their musical and creative endeavours by professionals at the top of their game.
We offer a distinct pathway through our interconnected programmes and a young person can join a programme at 15 years old and stay with us until they’re 26. In fact, several alumni now work with Grounded Sounds.
The impact
Crucially, our programmes don’t just deliver great musical experiences, they build community. Each and every one of our programmes supports young people to feel heard, respected and inspired, and nurtures the talent that already exists within them. At Grounded Sounds we work alongside young people to achieve their goals. This leads to higher confidence, a wider support network and, ultimately, healthier wellbeing.
Results from a 2024-25, independent study of our Spotlight programme, conducted by DPhil candidate Brianna Applewhite, indicated that participation in our 8-week programme led to ‘notable reductions in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms’.
Students on our after school programme, School Ground Sounds, recently reported an increase in their predicted Music GCSE grades as a direct result of taking part in the programme.
Our work endeavours to contribute to a stronger, more diverse, and community-focused music industry.
Our patrons
Our amazing patrons, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Shaybo are huge champions of our work and the young people we support. We’re super proud to have the support of two incredible artists who inspire us and share our commitment to making music accessible to all. Their backing reflects the deep impact that music can have—not just as a creative outlet, but as a tool for self-expression, connection, and growth.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
“Supporting a charity like Grounded Sounds—who use it to help young people learn, express themselves, and grow—is deeply meaningful to me. I'm honoured to be a patron and truly inspired by all that they do.”
Shaybo
“I’m super excited to be a patron for Grounded Sounds and am looking forward to building a long term relationship.”
What your donations support:
As a charity, Grounded Sounds relies on funding and donations, and with so many cuts taking place across the sector, we’re taking matters into our own hands - and we need your help!
School Ground Sounds
Our unique afterschool music production and songwriting programme costs us £21,000 per school per year to deliver.
The Bridge
Our 4 week summer holiday music programme for under 18s costs us £30,000 to deliver.
Spotlight
Our 8-week intensive artist development programme for over 18s costs us £40,000 to deliver.
EP Accelerator programme:
Our 9 month EP (Extended Play) recording programme costs us £30,000 to deliver.
Every donation we receive helps us reach more young people through our programmes, and to expand and develop what we offer.
Thank you so much for your support and time.
You can find out more about each individual programme on our website
This project successfully funded on 1st October 2025