The challenge of running a half marathon is finally within reach and I can’t think of a better motivation to get over the line than to raise money for Sound and Music.

Youth Music's 2024 report, Sound of the Next Generation, highlighted the "desperate need for a diverse talent pipeline, with inclusive spaces and opportunities to improve access, relevance and progression."

Youth unemployment is at an 11-year high, and opportunities to develop talent and confidence are in scarce supply.

With your support, any money we raise through this fundraiser will go towards Sound and Music's In the Making programme, the UK's only year-long young artist development programme for passionate and ambitious young music-makers aged 14-18.

I will be running with three others in our community and our target is to fundraise £3,000 together to go towards our In the Making Young Creator Bursary Fund, paying for one young participant from a low-income household to attend In the Making in 2027.

Where your contribution goes:

£50 pays for equipment hire for a young person to learn to play with new instruments, tools and software

£140 pays for bespoke access support for one young person

£170 pays for a young person to be tutored by leading composers, artists and industry experts for a whole year on the programme

£800 pays for a week's access to leading rehearsal and recording facilities

£900 pays for a young person's food, travel and accommodation at the In the Making residential

£2,000 pays for all costs for a young person to attend the In the Making summer residential

£3,000 pays for all costs for a young person to participate in In the Making for the full year.

I hope you will consider making your own contribution, if you are able to do so. Thank you!