Roundabout Receives Power of Music Grant to Support Young People Through Music

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is delighted to award a grant to Roundabout, South Yorkshire’s youth homelessness charity, to support the continuation of its inspiring Music Inclusion Project.

Based in Sheffield, Roundabout works with vulnerable young people aged 16–25 who are experiencing, or are at risk of, homelessness. Every day, the charity supports more than 500 young people across Sheffield and Rotherham, providing not only accommodation but also vital wraparound services that help young people build confidence, independence and hope for the future.

The funding will enable Roundabout to deliver three music workshops for young people living in supported housing, reaching up to 24 participants. The sessions will be delivered by Sheffield-based social enterprise RiteTrax and will provide hands-on opportunities to explore music production, songwriting and creative expression in a safe and supportive environment.

For many of the young people supported by Roundabout, opportunities to engage in creative activities can be limited by financial barriers and social disadvantage. The Music Inclusion Project removes those barriers by providing free access to high-quality music experiences that encourage participation, learning and personal development.

Music can be a powerful tool for building confidence, improving wellbeing and creating connections. Through these workshops, young people will have the chance to develop new skills, express themselves creatively and strengthen relationships with their support workers and peers. The sessions will also provide a positive social space where participants can feel safe, valued and included.

This award builds on a successful partnership between the Foundation and Roundabout, following previous grants that supported music activities for young people using the charity’s services. The organisation has demonstrated how creative engagement can help young people overcome challenges, improve wellbeing and remain engaged with the support available to them.

The Music Inclusion Project reflects the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that young people across South Yorkshire can access the transformative benefits of music, regardless of their circumstances. By supporting projects like this, we continue Sarah Nulty’s legacy of using music to bring people together, create opportunities and change lives.

We look forward to hearing from the young people involved and seeing the positive impact these workshops will have as the project begins later this year.

To learn more about Roundabout and its work supporting young people affected by homelessness, visit their website at https://www.roundabouthomeless.org/.

Large Grants June 2026 - First Grant awarded to:

Continuing Our Support for St Luke’s Hospice Ukulele Group

We are delighted to continue supporting the wonderful Ukulele Group at St Luke’s Hospice Sheffield, recognising the significant difference it makes to the wellbeing of people living with terminal illness and those closest to them.

Based at St Luke’s Ecclesall Road South site, the group forms part of the hospice’s wider Social Prescribing programme, offering patients a welcoming and creative space to connect with others through music. The sessions provide much more than an opportunity to learn an instrument; they help reduce isolation, build confidence, encourage relaxation, and create moments of joy during what can be an incredibly challenging time.

Music has been shown to support both emotional and physical wellbeing. For participants living with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, COPD and Motor Neurone Disease, the group can help with coordination, breathing control and motivation, while also providing a powerful outlet for self-expression and social connection.

The popularity of the Ukulele Group continues to grow, reflecting its value to those who attend. Through weekly sessions, participants can develop their musical skills, build lasting friendships and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of making music together.

We recognise the importance of projects like this in enhancing quality of life and supporting holistic care. We are therefore pleased to continue our support for St Luke’s Hospice and this much-valued programme, helping ensure that patients can continue to access the connection, creativity and wellbeing that the Ukulele Group provides.

We look forward to hearing more about the group’s progress and the positive impact it continues to have on patients, families and carers across Sheffield.

Large Grants June 2026 -Second Grant awarded to:

A Mind Apart - Supporting Accessible Music Holiday Clubs for Sheffield Children and Young People

We are pleased to support A Mind Apart Theatre Company and their Music Holiday Club project, helping to ensure that children and young people across Sheffield can access creative, inclusive, and music-based activities during the school holidays.

Holiday clubs play a vital role for many families, particularly those facing financial hardship or caring for children with additional needs. School holidays can often bring increased isolation, reduced access to structured activities, and additional pressures for parents and carers. Accessible holiday provision helps address these challenges by offering safe, supportive environments where young people can learn, socialise, and thrive.

A Mind Apart specialises in creating trauma-informed, inclusive spaces for children and young people, including those with SEND, anxiety, behavioural needs, and other barriers that can make mainstream activities difficult to access. Their Music Holiday Club will provide opportunities for participants to explore music through singing, rhythm work, songwriting, instrument-making, and creative wellbeing activities.

Music can be a powerful tool for self-expression, confidence-building, and emotional regulation. Through engaging and supportive sessions, children will be encouraged to develop new skills, build friendships, and experience the joy of creativity in an environment where they feel safe, valued, and understood.

The project is particularly important because it seeks to reach children who may otherwise miss out on holiday activities. While some support exists through Free School Meals programmes, many vulnerable families do not meet eligibility criteria despite facing significant financial challenges. This funding will help provide free and subsidised places, ensuring that more children can benefit regardless of their circumstances.

We recognise the importance of holiday clubs that go beyond simply keeping children occupied. Projects like this create opportunities for personal growth, improve wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and provide positive experiences that can have a lasting impact long after the summer holidays have ended.

We are delighted to support A Mind Apart as they continue expanding access to music and creative opportunities for children and young people across Sheffield, helping to ensure that every child has the chance to discover their potential through the power of music.

Grants Now Open: Now Supporting Music Across South Yorkshire

We’re excited to announce that The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation has partnered with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to expand our work beyond Sheffield to support music projects across the whole of South Yorkshire.

As part of this, we’ve launched the Open Doors Small Grants Programme – now open for applications. 

Grants of £750–£2,000 are available to support inclusive music projects for children and young people aged 25 and under across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. 

The programme aims to: 

• Increase access to music-making opportunities 

• Support grassroots organisations 

• Remove barriers to participation 

Julie Voisey, Chair, said: “This partnership with SYMCA is a hugely exciting step forward for The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation and for continuing Sarah’s legacy across South Yorkshire. Sarah was deeply passionate about supporting grassroots music and creating opportunities for people and communities through music, and we are proud to continue that work in her name. This programme allows us to expand that support regionally while placing a particular focus on opportunities for young people. By working across South Yorkshire, we can reach more communities, support more organisations, and help ensure that access to music is truly inclusive, something that was always central to Sarah’s vision.” 

Toby Smith, Music Service Manager, Rotherham Music and consortium member of the South Yorkshire Music Hub, said: “We are really excited to be launching this fund alongside the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation. The fund will enable young people across South Yorkshire to access important musical experiences that they may not have previously had the opportunity to enjoy. The whole region will benefit from the new experiences and wider reach that the Foundation will now be able to provide.”

Applications are open now and awarded on a rolling basis throughout 2026/27.

Find out more and apply

Finding Joy, Confidence, and Connection Through Music

At The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe music should be accessible to everyone. That is why we are proud to have supported Sparkle Sheffield with a grant to bring sensory music sessions to their annual summer camp.

For many children, music is part of everyday life. But for neurodiverse children, those same spaces can feel overwhelming and out of reach. Sparkle Sheffield is changing that.

This summer, at their residential camp in the Peak District, our funding helped create something truly special. Children who might otherwise never feel comfortable in a music setting were able to experience it in a way that felt safe, inclusive, and entirely their own.

Sparkle Sheffield’s camp is more than just a getaway. It is a place where children are understood without explanation—where they can relax, be themselves, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. With over 85% of attendees being neurodivergent, every detail is shaped around care, patience, and acceptance.

Thanks to the grant, daily sensory music sessions became part of the experience.

In calm, small-group settings, children explored instruments, sound, and rhythm at their own pace. There was no pressure to join in—just the freedom to engage in a way that felt right.

“My child has never been able to cope with music groups before. Seeing them pick up an instrument and actually enjoy it without becoming overwhelmed was something I never thought we’d see.”

Some children joined straight away. Others took their time, building confidence step by step.

“There was no rush, no judgement—just understanding. That made all the difference.”

The sessions opened up new ways for children to connect—with themselves and with each other.

“It was amazing to see friendships forming through something as simple as making music together.”

Siblings were able to share in those experiences too.

“For once, both my children could join in together. That’s something we rarely get, and it meant everything to us.”

For parents and carers, the impact was deeply felt.

“You could see the difference straight away—calmer, happier, more open. It’s hard to put into words how much that means.”

We are incredibly proud that our grant helped make these moments possible.

This is what the power of music looks like: breaking down barriers, building confidence, and creating spaces where every child feels they belong.

Through their work, Sparkle Sheffield continues to shine a light on what inclusive, community-led support can achieve—and we are honoured to be part of that journey.

Supporting Theodora Children’s Charity in Sheffield

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is delighted to continue supporting the work of Theodora Children’s Charity through a new grant for their Giggle Doctor Programme at Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Following the success of our previous support, we are proud to award another grant towards a series of Giggle Doctor visits delivered as part of the charity’s Sheffield project. The funding will support visits from Dr Flowerpot and Dr Nic Nac, who bring music, laughter and comfort to children during hospital stays.

During the project, the Giggle Doctors spend time with children across a range of wards including intensive care, oncology, burns and emergency departments. Through singing, music, storytelling, gentle humour and imaginative play, they help create moments of joy and connection for children and their families during what can often be a difficult and frightening experience.

Our previous support demonstrated the powerful impact these visits can have — helping children feel calmer and more confident, while also lifting the spirits of parents, siblings and hospital staff.

Dr Flowerpot’s joyful songs and ukulele performances alongside Dr Nic Nac’s calming musical approach continue to make a meaningful difference to young patients in Sheffield.

At the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, we believe in the power of music to uplift and support wellbeing, and we are proud to continue supporting projects that bring comfort, creativity and happiness to children when they need it most.

To learn more about Theodora Children’s Charity, visit  Theodora Children’s Charity.

Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation Awards Grant to Urban Beat Academy CIC

The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation is proud to continue its support for Urban Beat Academy CIC, awarding a new grant to help deliver an inspiring creative music programme for young people in Sheffield.

Based at Arundel Lane Studios in Sheffield, Urban Beat Academy CIC works with young people who are disengaged from mainstream education, at risk of exclusion, or vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour. Through music, mentoring, and creative opportunities, the organisation creates safe and supportive spaces where young people can build confidence, develop skills, and reconnect with positive pathways.

The grant will support delivery of The Power of Music: A 2-Day Creative Programme, an intensive project designed for 10–12 young people from across Sheffield. Over two structured days, participants will take part in DJing, music production, and collaborative creative workshops, working together to create an original piece of music.

Importantly, participants who complete the programme will also achieve an Arts Award Discover qualification, providing formal recognition of their creativity and achievement. This new element builds on previous projects we have supported with Urban Beat Academy CIC, creating stronger progression opportunities into further education, training, and the wider creative industries.

The programme has been developed for young people who may struggle in traditional educational settings, including those in alternative provision, care-experienced young people, and individuals facing challenges around confidence, mental health, or social isolation. By using music as a tool for engagement and self-expression, the project aims to improve communication, teamwork, and self-belief while giving participants a constructive and positive outlet.

Urban Beat Academy CIC continues to work closely with local schools, Sheffield City Council, mentoring services, and alternative provision partners to ensure young people who could benefit most are able to access the programme.

We are delighted to support this next stage of their work and look forward to seeing the impact the project has on young people across Sheffield.

The Power of Brass: Celebrating Sheffield Music Hub’s 2026 Brass Extravaganza.

We are thrilled to announce that our latest grant has been awarded to Sheffield Music Hub, supporting their 2026 Brass Extravaganza, a large-scale celebration of young brass players from across the city at Victoria Hall on Monday 18 May 2026.

Taking place in the heart of Sheffield, the Brass Extravaganza will bring together children from six primary schools who are learning brass through Whole Class Ensemble Teaching, alongside young musicians from Firth Park Community Brass Band, a guest adult brass band and a professional ten-piece brass ensemble. This inspiring event showcases the full musical journey, from a first taste of brass in primary school through to youth, adult and professional performance.

Our grant will be used to make it possible for Sheffield Music Hub to offer this experience free of charge to participating schools, ensuring the event is delivered safely, professionally and inclusively for everyone involved.

The Brass Extravaganza is much more than a concert; for many children it will be their first time performing in a concert hall and seeing live professional musicians, giving them a powerful glimpse of where their music-making could lead. By watching older players and professionals on stage, young people can see clear progression routes beyond First Access lessons into youth ensembles, community bands and even performances on major stages such as the Royal Albert Hall through projects like the South Yorkshire Orchestral Collective.

By expanding the event from two schools last year to six in 2026, Sheffield Music Hub will open up this opportunity to significantly more young people, including many who might otherwise never take part in a large-scale music event. Offering the project free to schools removes a major financial barrier at a time when budgets are under pressure, and ensures children from all parts of the city can share in the excitement and confidence that come from performing together.

This project reflects the shared belief of Sheffield Music Hub and The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation that music changes lives and should be accessible to every child, regardless of background, income or circumstance. It echoes Sarah’s legacy by using music to bring people together, create joyful memories and give young people in Sheffield the chance to experience the happiness and possibility that music can bring.