Old Chapel Music CIC needs your help!

Who we are

Old Chapel Music - a Community Interest Company which has been a Leeds music community bedrock for over a generation – and now, we need your help.

We need a little bit of support with the recent cost of living and economic pressures that are affecting us right now. Inflation and coronavirus have had devastating impacts on everyone including the charity sector, social enterprises and grassroots communities. Old Chapel came through the three-year storm with hard work and ingenuity, and is all set to keep moving forward with a strong programme of events and offerings.

But, our home is becoming more expensive to run. Our rent has just been increased by its highest amount ever (over £500 a month more), with a (legal) backdated claim that we also have to cover. 

Alongside the big increases in utilities costs (over £300 a month more), that we know everyone is feeling across the country, the Old Chapel is now feeling the squeeze and does not want to pass these costs on by continually raising everyday charges, so we are seeking donations so that we can keep prices down and cover the backdated increased rent amount.

Old Chapel's Community 

Mike Heaton, Drummer for Embrace, talking about his time at Old Chapel.

We have been in our home on Czar Street for 30 years, where the Kaiser Chiefs, Embrace, Pigeon Detectives, Cud, The Slates and many more all started out – plus countless amateur bands, disabled musicians and people who use music as therapy for their mental health. We have every intention of being here for 30 years more, bringing through musical talent, supporting people with learning, skills and developing communities. 

Kaiser Chiefs showing the Time Capsule they and other bands buried under the new part of Old Chapel back in 2012 - T-shirt, albums, lyrics etc from the likes of Embrace, Kaiser Chiefs, Pigeon Detectives and more. 

Old Chapel is registered as a Community Interest Organisation (CIC) which has 3 volunteer Directors, 2 part time staff and a pool of freelancers along with some hard working and very dedicated volunteers, who keep the doors open 7 days a week. Leeds Music Trust is our parent charity which comprises a Board of Volunteer Trustees, overseeing the work we do and making sure education and affordability to the community of Leeds, is at the forefront of all our work.

Today the services we provide as a grassroots music community for amateur and professional musicians, young people and vulnerable adults wanting to learn or practice music have never been needed more. But, the current situation is challenging all the hard work we do.

Here’s a taste of Old Chapel today

Feedback from music group member "I had an absolute hoot yesterday.  What a special, safe place OCS is.  Thank you for the lovely welcome. Nicky is just fab.  Bring on next week!"

• Free music groups are available for vulnerable and disadvantaged people to join, whether to develop their practice or to develop local community networks.
• We are developing training and employment programmes for young people to get into the music industry, taking work experience students when no other studio will.

• Providing office space to other community groups, allowing them the space to grow and develop: for example, Cloth Cat Studios who were with us from 2009 to 2023 have now moved on to their own space at The Holbeck. 
• Swan Song Project moved in to continue their songwriting and recording project with people living with terminal illnesses who are planning the end stages of their life 

This is Rufus with Ben Slack, founder of The Swan Song Project recording, Rufus' song in Old Chapel's Recording studio

• Star Cloths UK, who run online monthly discos for the Down Syndrome community moved in.
• Our ongoing partnership with Festival Republic on their ReBalance programme which provides a safe inclusive space for women to train as studio engineers. 
• We are supporting the local youth club Re:establish with musical equipment and freelancers to teach and support the local young people of Holbeck & Beeston, keeping them off the streets and giving them a purpose. 
• We are continuing to streamline and save on costs with a new online booking system for amateur musicians to access affordable rehearsal space. This online booking system, called Jammed, was developed over 5 years ago by Old Chapel and a fellow musician whose day job was in app development. The developer/musician has now gone on to sell this to studios around the world and been able to make Jammed his main source of income. 
• We have a new partnership with Kirklees College called 'Brand Your Band' supporting local bands from West Yorkshire on a 22 week qualification in marketing, promotion and working your way through the music industry. They receive mentoring, 3 hours a week free rehearsal time and access to professional musicians who are successful in promoting their band and brand in the industry.

• A free twice-monthly heritage tour, running until 2024, allows guests to explore the rich history of Old Chapel, from the early days of Leeds’ punk scene to its influence on music in the present day while trying out different instruments and getting a chance to sing or play in the recording studio.

Old Chapel’s future is extremely bright, but our current cost burdens threaten to dim that light. The funding goal is set to blast our cost of living budget hole so that we can continue our vibrant programme of events and remain an available, accessible space 7 days a week.

Every penny helps, and anything you can afford to contribute would be greatly appreciated. Regardless, Old Chapel Music welcomes you with open arms and we would love you to visit us and show you what we do, so that we can continue doing it for the next generation.

THANK YOU!