We are delighted to announce a grant to Concerteenies, supporting the next chapter of its brilliant Musical Stories programme: a brand-new musical adaptation of A Cat Called Scratch by Jonathan Long and Korky Paul.
We are proud to continue our support for Concerteenies, whose inclusive, high-quality work for young children and families we have long admired.
Concerteenies is a Sheffield-based registered charity that creates accessible, high-quality live music experiences for children aged 0–7 and their adults. Its work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: every child should have the chance to enjoy live music, whatever their background or circumstances.
The award will help Concerteenies commission a new composition based on A Cat Called Scratch, alongside animated versions of Korky Paul’s illustrations. Children will experience the story through live performances in schools, nurseries, libraries, and Family Hubs, as well as through a free online film version for families to enjoy at home. The project is designed to reach children across South Yorkshire, with a particular focus on schools and communities where access to the arts can be limited. Concerteenies plans to work with at least 46 schools, aiming to reach more than 4,600 children and 230 teachers, alongside two-family orchestral performances in Sheffield and an online audience of around 5,000 children and adults.
Musical Stories combine live music, storytelling, animation and participation, giving young children a joyful first encounter with live performance while supporting listening, communication, movement, and creative learning. Concerteenies has a strong track record in this area, and its wider work focuses on bringing inclusive musical experiences to children in schools, nurseries, and community settings.
What impressed us about this application was the way the project supports children, teachers, and creative professionals at the same time. Children receive an accessible introduction to live music in familiar community settings; teachers receive training, lesson plans, SEND resources and songs to help embed music across the curriculum; families who cannot easily attend a concert can access the animated film and resources online; and local composers, animators, musicians and creative practitioners gain paid creative opportunities.
The project will run from February to August 2027. We are pleased to play a part in helping A Cat Called Scratch come to life—and in helping more children across South Yorkshire discover the wonder of live music.