Guidance for Applicants
Use the contents on the left hand side, or the navigation buttons below, to read the guidance for applicants. You can also download a Plain Text version below.
Alternative Formats, Languages, Access Support and Contacting Enquiries
Creative Scotland is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes that are open to everyone. We have several ways of supporting you in making an application.
Alternative Formats and Languages
Our published materials, including funding guidance and application forms, are provided in alternative formats and languages. On request, they can be made available in other formats, as required.
We can accept applications and supporting materials which are written in English, Gaelic or Scots.
Access Support
Access support contributes to costs for services to help applicants overcome barriers to applying for our funds.
We offer access support to individuals or the lead applicant of a group who self-identify as d/Deaf, hard of hearing, disabled or living with chronic illness, mental illness or neurodivergence, such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD.
For information on the types of support available, how to request assistance, and how to include access costs in your funding application, please visit the Access Support section of our website .
If you need further assistance after reviewing this information, please contact us at: [email protected]
If you are a d/Deaf BSL user, you can access our services with the Contact Scotland-BSL programme. Visit www.contactscotland-bsl.org for more information.
Contacting our Enquiries Service
If you require technical support, further information or have any other queries, contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected]
Questions about the Strengthening Youth Music Fund
If you require further information or have any queries about the YMI Strengthening Youth Music Fund, contact Christine Halsall, YMI Officer by emailing: [email protected]
Overview of YMI and About this Fund
In 2003, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) was launched to put music at the heart of young people’s lives and learning. It currently operates with an annual budget of £9.5 million and supports all musical genres, age groups and teaching methods.
There are two distinct strands:
Funding for the Youth Arts Sector – supports freelancers and organisations to deliver high quality projects for the benefit of children, young people and the wider youth music sector.
This funding is delivered through:
Access to Music Making
Strengthening Youth Music
Youth Arts Open Fund, for wider youth arts projects, administered by YouthLink Scotland
Funding for local authorities – in addition to the core curriculum, all 32 local authorities deliver projects that offer equitable access to music and music making projects that strengthen the culture sector in Scotland.
To find out more about our plans, evaluations and funding routes, visit the Youth Music Initiative section of our website.
What is the Strengthening Youth Music Fund?
The YMI Strengthening Youth Music Fund supports individuals and organisations working in the youth music sector deliver activities that will improve, develop and strengthen the sector, and the services offered to benefit children and young people across the country.
It does not support music making activity directly with children and young people – this support is offered through the Access to Music Making Fund.
Up to £1.4m will be available for the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds in 2025/26.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
Applicants must be working to develop the youth music sector in Scotland, for the benefit of children and young people.
We welcome applications from:
Organisations based in Scotland
Individual freelancers based in Scotland
Applicants based outside Scotland but who operate with a UK-wide remit/are working with Scotland-based partners for activity taking place in Scotland, for the direct benefit of Scotland’s youth music sector and those based here.
Multi-Year Funded Organisations (MYFO)
MYFOs can apply but should first discuss their intention to apply for funding with Christine Halsall, YMI Officer: [email protected]
Applications will be required to demonstrate why the proposed activity is additional to their existing funding agreement and how the activity enhances current and future plans.
Who cannot apply?
Applications will not be accepted from:
Schools and/or their associated organisations, such as Parent Teacher Associations
Local Authority music services (this support is delivered through the £7.2m 2025/26 budget for the YMI Formula Fund )
Students
Applicants seeking support for activity outside Scotland
How much can I apply for?
Eligible applicants can apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 , for up to 12 months of activity.
All applicants can apply for 100% of their proposed programme but we encourage applicants to include partnership funding and in-kind contributions.
We expect this to be a highly competitive fund and aim to support a wide range of projects across Scotland that demonstrate the best value for public funds.
Supported Activity and Costs
This fund is intended to support activity that will strengthen, improve and develop the youth music sector and services offered to children and young people across the country. We welcome applications proposing any activity that will meet the purpose and criteria of the fund.
Examples of the types of activity we can support include:
Partnership working between formal and non-formal sectors supporting networking at local or national level.
Conferences, seminars or events sharing good practice or exploring issues pertinent to the youth music sector in Scotland.
Development of and pooling of resources that will widen access to music for children and young people.
Delivery of action research projects that develop new approaches/methods of working, proposals that explore ways of creating progression opportunities for children and young people through partnerships between formal and non-formal sectors.
Development of technology that will widen access to music for children and young people.
What this fund does not support
Activities outside the YMI remit , including projects unrelated to the youth music sector in ScotlandFunding for retrospective activity , including activities that have already happened, or will start before a decision has been made on your application.Substitute funding for projects that directly or indirectly replace activity that a local authority has chosen to no longer deliver.Applications for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and/or training benefitting a small group from a single organisation.Funding for permanent full and part-time posts.
How to Apply
All applications must be made through Creative Scotland’s online Funding Management System .
For information on how to register, access and complete the application form, visit: my.creativescotland.com/user-guide .
If you aren’t already, register on the Funding Management System at my.creativescotland.com and verify your email address.
Once registered, log in and select the YMI Strengthening Youth Music application form.
Use the Apply now button to begin your application.
Complete the form as instructed, Use the Review your Progress button at any time to preview the questions and see your progress.You can save your application and return to it at any time before the deadline of 2pm, Tuesday 9 September 2025 .
If you need access support during the application, click on the Access Support button. This will inform the support team of your requirements, and you will be contacted as soon as possible.
Submit the completed application form before the deadline. Once submitted it will not be possible to amend the application, so ensure you thoroughly review and check before submission.Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation message with a reference number .
Please keep an electronic copy of your application for your own records and future reference.
Supporting Material
Alongside the completed application form, you must provide the following materials
Constitutional Documents , if applying as an organisationEqual Opportunities Policy , if applying as an organisationProject Budget , using the template provided in the application materialsSafeguarding Policy , either your organisations policy or if you’re applying as an individual, the policy of one of the partner organisations you’re working with - more information can be found in the Safeguarding section.CVs or detailed biographies of key project staff and freelancers.
Optional Supporting Materials
Letters or emails from partners outlining their support of and involvement in the project.
Fund Criteria
Your application must clearly demonstrate how it meets the following criteria:
Activity is clearly aligned with the purpose of the fund.
Activity has a clear need within the youth music sector, and this is demonstrated and evidenced within the project, outlining how this will result in a strategic intervention that will strengthen the youth music sector in Scotland.
Activity will impact children and young people who are less likely to participate, this could include children and young people who:
- reside in areas of social and economic deprivation, for more information visit the Scottish Government website
- are experiencing or at risk of experiencing harm and neglect
- are care experienced, for more information visit The Promise Scotland
- are in the early years (0-5) of their life
- are of the global majority and/or ethnic minorities
- have disabilities/learning disabilities
- are neurodivergent including autism, ADHD, tourettes syndrome
- are experiencing mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD, eating disorders and addictive behaviours
- have experience of the criminal justice system
- are young carers (as defined by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 ) and/or young parents
- are experiencing homelessness or who have been homeless.
Learnings from activity will be shared with those working in the youth music sector to achieve meaningful impact.
Consideration to the Climate Emergency in your approach to the management and delivery of your project, refer to the Scottish Government Priorities section for more information.
Alignment with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First guidance, refer to the Scottish Government Priorities section for more information.
Activity is delivered by highly skilled and experienced staff who are, where appropriate, paid rates in line with Musicians’ Union recommended rates. Robust contracts must be in place with external providers.
Confirmation that any individual who is to carry out a regulated role (paid or voluntary) with children, young people or protected adults is a member of the PVG scheme before undertaking that role.
Strong project management, including clear structures and adequate resource allocated to project coordination.
Clear identification of any risks associated with the delivery of the project and the activities you propose to undertake.
Robust planning for measuring your projects impact through monitoring and evaluation.
Activity is budgeted appropriately with a breakdown of costs and how they relate to your project.
Raise awareness of the impact and profile of YMI activities within your area through effective promotion and advocacy.
Scottish Government Priorities
Applications must also demonstrate consideration to the following Scottish Government Priorities:
Fair Work
In line with the Scottish Government Guidance , all organisations applying for funding from Creative Scotland are required to meet the Fair Work First conditions. This includes paying the Real Living Wage to directly employed staff, ensuring effective voice for workers is in place in the project/organisation and ensuring no inappropriate use of zero hour contracts. For more information, visit the Fair Work section of our website.
Climate Emergency
Creative Scotland has a statutory obligation to respond to the causes and impact of climate change, which is embodied by our Environmental Sustainability Strategic Priority and our Climate Emergency and Sustainability Plan . If relevant, we also want to better understand how your proposed activity raises awareness of the causes and impact of climate change at a local level and contributing to the achievement of your respective local authority’s climate action aims.
If relevant, please provide detail on how your project aligns with the wider Scottish Government priorities:
Tackling Child Poverty
Child poverty in Scotland is projected to fall to its lowest level in nearly 30 years as a result of the actions taken to date and commitments in the second delivery plan. For more information, read the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-26 , information about priority families , or talk to the child poverty officer within your Council.
UNCRC
On the 16 July 2024, The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force. The UNCRC was created to ensure that children’s rights are respected and protected in the law in Scotland, as well as ensuring that public authorities are legally required to respect and protect children’s rights in all the work they do. For more information on our work in this area, read the UNCRC report on our website .
Budget Requirements
You must provide a one-page, balanced budget with your application using the template provided in the application materials. This budget should clearly detail and break down all areas of income and expenditure, distinguishing between cash and in-kind costs. Budget figures should be rounded to the nearest whole pound (£).
In your budget, you can include the following costs:
Freelancer costs broken down into daily/hourly rates.Staff costs , for ongoing support of children and young people in a range of roles, including PVG checks for any new or existing staff.Venue/equipment hire , where appropriate.Overheads of up to 20% of the projects total budget - overheads are costs incurred for the support of your project such as a contribution to management costs, contribution to management staff salaries, heating and lighting or insurance.Marketing, advertising and/or participant recruitment costs .Travel costs associated with the project.Access costs , as detailed below.Monitoring and evaluation costs. Contingency of between 5-10% of your budget.
Fair Pay
We are committed through any activities we support to ensure that artists and professionals working in the creative community are paid fairly and appropriately for their time and effort. Please refer to the current Musician’s Union Rates of Pay and Creative Scotland’s Rates of Pay Guidance.
Access Costs
There are two types of access costs, Personal Access Costs which are treated separately from your main budget and Project Access Costs which should be included in your project budget.
For detailed information on what qualifies as eligible personal and project access costs, as well as a breakdown of eligible and non-eligible expenses, please visit our website .
For further information or guidance on access support and costs please email: [email protected]
You may also be eligible to apply for support from the UK Government’s Access to Work Fund , which can help cover some of the extra costs of carrying out your job, or travelling to, from and during work if you are disabled.
Partnership Funding
While there is no cash-match requirement for this fund, it is important that you include relevant partnership funding in the budget (cash or in-kind) as this information demonstrates financial commitment to your project activity.
Cash contributions might include:
Other funding sources, such as cash income from your organisation, fundraising from trusts and foundations or private sponsorship.
Earned income, such as from ticket sales or course fees.
In-kind contributions might include:
Voluntary labour, any time or services ‘donated’ should be additional and not part of the donor’s normal activities.
Donated equipment or venue-hire, including use of premises or office space for the project.
Internal CPD opportunities and/or peer-support offered to key project staff.
If you are aware of additional in-kind contributions but are unable to calculate the monetary value of these contributions, please provide a brief description of the areas of support.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding Policy
Applicants should have a safeguarding policy in place before applying. Your policy should be tailored to your activities and outline the principles of your safeguarding approach in a way that is proportionate to the needs of the groups you will be engaging with, the level of engagement you plan to have with them, and the level of risk involved. As a guide, your policy should also include:
Clear procedures for reporting and responding to concerns with a named person who is responsible for safeguarding and their contact details.
A Code of Behaviour for staff and volunteers.
Safer recruitment practices to demonstrate that appropriate policies are followed when appointing staff or volunteers, and that regular training is offered to reduce the risk of harm or abuse. This includes appropriate background checks, such as PVG scheme membership for regulated roles.
A clear process for reviewing and updating your policy to reflect current legislation, guidance, and learning.
Please note that the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 came into force from 1 April 2025, which changes the PVG scheme. Individuals who are to carry out a regulated role with children, young people or protected adults, must ensure they are a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG). We would recommend that you review your PVG processes to ensure that they are in line with this updated legislation.
We suggest the following resources for planning and ensuring Safeguarding and Child Protection:
Dignity at Work
Everyone working in Scotland’s creative and cultural sectors is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, whether they are an employee, freelancer, contractor, board member or volunteer. Creative Scotland does not tolerate bullying, harassment, or victimisation under any circumstance, and expects the same of any organisation that we support with public funding.
Those applying for activity that involves employing other people should ensure that they have appropriate safeguards in place to ensure dignity at work, including approaches to ensure best practice in areas such as equality and diversity, harassment and bullying, disciplinary procedures and whistle blowing.
Creative Scotland has produced guidance on what we mean when we describe dignity at work and what our expectations are of those we fund. You can read this on the Dignity at Work page of our website.
While we are primarily a funding body rather than a regulator, we expect all grant recipients to adhere to safeguarding and dignity at work standards. Failure to do so could result in payments being suspended or grants withdrawn.
Our Decisions Making Process
Stage 1: Submission and Initial Checks
You submit your application and receive an email confirmation.
Creative Scotland checks your application for completeness and eligibility.
If eligible, you’ll receive a confirmation email, and your application moves to assessment.
If incomplete, you’ll be given a short period to provide the missing information. If you do not supply this, your application will not be assessed, and you’ll be notified by email.
If ineligible, you’ll receive an email explaining why.
Stage 2: Assessment
Your application is assessed, based on the information provided in your application and any supporting materials submitted.
Stage 3: Recommendation
Your application is either recommended for funding or rejected based on the fund guidelines and criteria.
A panel of Creative Scotland staff review applications and consider the individual merits of each application as summarised by the assessor.
Stage 4: Decision
You will receive an email confirming whether your application was successful or not.
If successful, you’ll receive:
A Funding Agreement outlining the terms of your award and any special conditions (if applicable)
A Fair Work Form, to be signed and returned, confirming that you will adopt Fair Work practices in line with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First Guidance .
Request for bank account details
On request, a copy of your full assessment.
If unsuccessful, you will receive feedback and can request the full assessment. We will provide you with information on how to reapply.
The signed Funding Agreement, Fair Work Form and response to special conditions must be returned to Creative Scotland by the date specified in our confirmation email, failing which Creative Scotland reserves the right to withdraw the funding offer and you may have to reapply.
Stage 5: Payment
After reviewing your Funding Agreement, if you have any questions about the agreement, conditions or recommendations, you should contact your assessing officer.
First payment (80%)
After returning your signed Funding Agreement, meeting any conditions and having your bank details verified, you will receive your first payment.
Final payment (20%)
After project completion, submit an End of Project Monitoring Form within 30 days. Once submitted, it will be reviewed and signed off by your assessing officer and the final payment will be made, as per the terms of your Funding Agreement.
Changes to your project
We understand, due to unforeseen circumstances, you may need to make changes to your project.
If you are unable to deliver an aspect of your project as it was laid out in your application, please email Christine Halsall who will be able to advise: [email protected]
Funding Terms and Conditions
For the full Terms and Conditions of the funding, please visit our website .
Please note, for larger or multi-year awards, payment terms may vary.
Application Questions: Part 1
These application questions are designed to help you prepare your application - please note this is for preparatory purposes and applications will only be accepted through Creative Scotland’s online Funding Management System.
Project Proposal
Project Title
Summarise the project you intend to undertake with this funding (approx. 200 words). You can enter 1400 characters.
Project Detail
When will your project or activity start? This cannot be before 2 February 2026.
When will your project or activity end? Activity can last a maximum of 12 months.
Your Project - Locations
Where will your project/activity take place? Tell us as much information as you can about where your activity will be delivered to children and young people. You should fill out at least one of these boxes, but please complete as many as are applicable.
Local Authority
Postcode (optional)
Location outside of Scotland (optional)
About your project
The purpose of the Strengthening Youth Music Fund is to support organisations and individuals to undertake strategic projects that improve the youth music sector infrastructure in Scotland.
Describe your proposed project and how it meets the purpose of the fund. Provide an overview of the project including:
Timeline and key dates
Content and focus of delivery
Who will deliver the project
Details on how your project will benefit children and young people who are less likely to participate in music making
Other ways you have considered Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in your project.
Approx. 850 words. You can enter 5950 characters.
Strengthening the Sector
Describe the impact of your project and how it will contribute to strengthening the youth music sector. This could include the following:
Increased partnership working and sector networking though the delivery of training and events.
Sharing best practice approaches on removing barriers to children and young people who are less likely to participate.
Creation of new resources or technology that can be widely distributed.
Publication of high-quality research on issues relating to the youth music sector.
Approx. 500 words. You can enter 3500 characters.
Describe how you have identified a need for this project. This could include consultation with children and young people. Approx. 300 words. You can enter 2100 characters.
Partnerships
Detail the partners involved in your project and the type of support they provide. Partners might include Local Authority departments, the local police, children’s charities, and national/local arts organisations.
Partner Name
Type of support provided
Application Questions: Part 2
Measuring Impact
Tell us how you will monitor and evaluate your project. We want to know how you will monitor and evaluate throughout your project, including the methods that you will use to collect data. This should be appropriate to the size and scale of your project which could include:
Methods of gathering quantitative data including participant and staffing numbers and the number of sessions.
Methods of gathering qualitative data including surveys, questionnaires and interviews.
Approaches to telling the story of the impact including case studies, quotes, videos or staff diaries.
Examples of how you have measured impact in previous projects.
Approx. 600 words. You can enter 4200 characters.
Climate Emergency
At Creative Scotland, we have a statutory obligation to respond to the causes and impact of climate change. This is embodied by our Environmental Sustainability strategic priority and our Climate Emergency and Sustainability Plan .
Describe how you consider the climate emergency in your approach to the management and delivery of your project. This could include:
Approaches reducing travel emissions.
Partnership working to raise awareness of climate issues.
Relevant themes that will be explored through the delivery of your project.
Approx. 200 words. You can enter 1400 characters.
Project Management and Fair Work
In this section we want you to demonstrate your approach to project management that aligns with the criteria of the fund. Describe how you will manage your project. This could include the following:
Outline the roles and responsibilities of staff and freelancers.
Describe your approaches to Fair Work and ensuring fair pay, conditions, and employment opportunities across the creative sector.
Outline your approach to safeguarding and any project risks and detail how you plan to mitigate them.
Outline your approach to financial management and governance.
Approx. 600 words. You can enter 4200 characters.
Project Staff
How many roles will be supported through the project? Indicate whether they will be full time or part time.
Project Management/Co-ordination/Admin staff
Freelance artists and creative practitioners
Youth work staff or staff in roles supporting children and young people
Trainees
Volunteers
Do you confirm that any individual who is to carry out a regulated role (paid or voluntary) with children, young people or protected adults will be a member of the PVG scheme before undertaking that role?
Access Costs
Personal Access Costs - if you, or any key collaborators involved in developing and leading the project, are:
Deaf
Disabled
Neurodivergent
Have a long-term illness or chronic health condition
You may require additional costs relating to your own access needs, in order to deliver the project. Some examples are:
A BSL interpreter
Specialist equipment or software
A Personal Assistant for a disabled person
Personal access costs are treated separately to your main project budget. They do not count towards your total funding request.
Project Access Costs - all other project access costs should be added in the Budget Expenditure page later in this application form, using the “Project Access Costs” category.
For example, costs for making your activity accessible to audiences, participants and artists, and costs related to childcare and other caring responsibilities.
Further information on Personal and Project Access Costs is available in the Fund Guidance.
Do you require personal access costs?
If yes: what are the total personal access costs you are requesting?
Provide a breakdown of these personal access costs (approx. 200 words). You can enter 1400 characters.
Budget
What is the total budget of the project/activity? (not including personal access costs).
How much money are you requesting from Creative Scotland? You can apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 (not including personal access costs).
Budget Income
Read how to fill in this section (pdf)
Budget Expenditure
You can upload your budget spreadsheet here. Use the Budget Template from the Creative Scotland website . File size limit: 25MB. File types accepted: Excel.
Budget Expenditure Table
Complete table
Supporting Material
Attach supporting material specified below. Refer to the Supporting Material section in the Fund Guidance for more information. File size limit: 25MB. File types accepted: Word, PDF
Copy of your Safeguarding Policy
CV or detailed biography of key project staff, artists and/or professionals, indicating experience relevant to their role in this project. You can upload multiple files.
Letters or emails from partners outlining their support and involvement in the project. You can upload multiple files. (optional)
Structured training plan for trainees. (optional)
You can upload up to 3 examples of your previous work. You can upload multiple files. (optional)
Video URL and description (optional)
Subsidy Control and Data Protection
Subsidy Control
As a public body Creative Scotland must comply with the subsidy control rules in the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK Government and the European Union. More information can be found at: UK subsidy control regime - GOV.UK .
Any award made through this fund will require the recipient to acknowledge that the grant comes from public funds and confirm that the support provided is compliant with the Subsidy Control rules.
Where applicable, the recipient must agree that Creative Scotland will publish information relating to the grant and that the recipient will keep reasonably detailed records to demonstrate compliance with the Subsidy Control rules and shall provide a copy of such records to Creative Scotland upon reasonable request.
If it is deemed to be non-compliant with the Subsidy Control rules, the recipient may be required to repay the entire grant (and any other sums due) immediately.
Data Protection
Creative Scotland requires some personal information about you/your organisation to consider your application for funding. Without this information we will be unable to process your application.
If you would like to see a breakdown of the personal information we require, why it is required, what we do with that information and how long we keep it, please refer to our Privacy Notice on our website .
Creative Scotland may share your personal information with third parties to comply with the law and/or for our legitimate interests and/or the third parties concerned.
Where the personal information you have provided to Creative Scotland belongs to other individual(s), please refer to our Privacy Notice. Please ensure you share this Privacy Statement and Creative Scotland’s Privacy Notice with the respective individual(s).
You have some rights in relation to the personal information that Creative Scotland holds about you under data protection law. Information on how to exercise these rights is contained in our Privacy Notice or you can contact our Data Protection Officer .
If you have any concerns with how we have processed your personal information, you should contact our Data Protection Officer in the first instance, as we would welcome the opportunity to work with you to resolve any complaint. If you are still dissatisfied, you can submit a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office.
