Voice for Youth - Shaping the Future of Music Education in Sheffield

Voice for Youth is a youth-led programme organised by Sheffield Music Hub. It gives young people a platform to share their views and tell us what they want from music education in Sheffield. The aim is to create a space where young voices are not just heard but help shape real decisions.

The programme is co-curated by young people, for young people. Two youth co-leads, aged 14–19, helped design the first two events and led the discussions. They worked closely with Inclusion Lead Heather Burge and Assistant Projects Officer Rory Evans to plan and deliver the sessions.

Voice for Youth One

The first event took place on 6th February at Sheffield College’s Silver Plate restaurant. It was a vibrant and inspiring evening, welcoming young musicians aged 13–18 to share their thoughts on the future of music education, the role of the Music Hub, and the development of its new home at Harmony Works. The event was co-led by Youth Co-Lead Samuella, who facilitated meaningful conversations around accessibility, inclusion, and career pathways in the music industry.

A Platform for Real Change

Discussions explored questions like “What does the Music Hub mean to you?” and “What could the Music Hub do for you?”, revealing a strong desire among students for a more inclusive and diverse music education experience.

One of the most powerful parts of the evening focused on closing the gap between young musicians and the professional music industry. This was a topic that Samuella was passionate about and chose to lead discussions on. Students proposed ideas for mentorships, networking events, and real-world experiences—feedback that led to the launch of a new mentoring scheme, and Sheffield Music Hub’s work experience programme.

Creative Collaboration and Design Thinking

The event also featured an architect working on the Harmony Works building, who presented room design concepts. Young people gave feedback on layouts, aesthetics, and how the spaces could be used—ensuring the new centre reflects the creativity and needs of its future users.

Harmony Works will be Sheffield Music Hub’s new purpose-built music education centre. Find out more here

Voice for Youth Two

The second Voice for Youth event was held in July at Sheffield Music Hub’s base, the Foundry Studio. With young co-leads Alex and Samuella co-designing the session.

At this event, discussions focused on the types of workshops young people would like to see and how they should be delivered—whether through group activities, presentations, or one-to-one sessions. Building on feedback from the first event, students also explored ideas around student-led performances, asking questions like “How much responsibility do we want?” and “What roles would we like to take on?”

As a result, older students supported the Sheffield Music Hub’s Learn to Play event by helping on instrument stalls and teaching younger children how to play each instrument.

Plans are also in place for young people to take on key roles behind the scenes at the upcoming Spring Gala Concert, including Stage Management Assistants, Audio Visual Assistants, and Social Media/Comms Assistants. Stay tuned for more details!

Youth-Led Action and Advocacy

Co-Lead Alex also led a session on how young people can make real change in their schools if they feel music education isn’t meeting their needs. Students discussed ideas like organising fundraising gigs to raise money for new equipment.

The Music Hub is committed to embedding youth feedback into its strategic development. As stated by organisers, “Our work is for young people and should be shaped by young people.”

With each event, Voice for Youth is proving to be more than just a consultation—it’s a movement empowering young people to shape the future of music in Sheffield.

What’s Already Been Put in Place Based on Youth Feedback

Thanks to the ideas and suggestions shared at Voice for Youth, Sheffield Music Hub has already made several changes to give young people more opportunities to get involved:

• Mentoring Scheme – Connecting young musicians with experienced mentors to support their growth and confidence. This scheme has now finished but we are looking for funding to resume it.
• Work Experience Programme – This programme offers young people hands-on experience in music education here at Sheffield Music Hub.
• Student Roles at Learn to Play – Older students supported younger children at instrument stalls, helping them explore and try out new instruments.
• Youth Roles at the Spring Gala Concert – Young people will take on behind-the-scenes roles such as Stage Management Assistants, Audio Visual Assistants, and Social Media/Comms Assistants. Find out more here