Yeah Youth UK: Helping to combat inequality and lack of opportunity for young people in music 

Young people from financially and socially vulnerable backgrounds are faced with a number of barriers when it comes to entering the music industry. From practical matters like the cost of equipment through to more subjective barriers such as a lack of industry knowledge and even (or especially) a basic lack of self-belief and confidence; such barriers are very real, and can be very hard to overcome.

Yeah Youth UK is a free artist development project that was created to give young people the tools, space, and support needed to be able to explore and develop their creativity. The brains – or perhaps more aptly hearts – behind it are by Shay Mula and Capo Lee, two UK rap artists who themselves struggled with a lack of pathways into music growing up. Their overarching vision is to give young people access to the kind of support they feel they’d have really benefited from when starting out.

Below, we hand over the mic to Jo, Partnership Coordinator at Yeah Youth UK, who gives us some really inspiring – and often quite emotive – insights into the brilliant work they’re doing. Let’s go.

👀 Psst. Interested to learn why Yeah Youth UK loves Ticket Tailor? Jo explains in detail below, but here’s a quick snapshot:

✅Super simple and effective to use 

✅Tons of built-in marketing tools

✅Live check-in app

✅Cheaper and easier to use than Eventbrite

✅Seamless integration and customisation

✅Valuable tracking and reporting

Nice 😌. Now, over to Jo…

A new generation of creatives

Yeah Youth UK is a free artist development project for young people to foster a new generation of creatives developing their skills. It’s aimed at 14-22 year olds who are from financially and socially vulnerable backgrounds otherwise lacking access to the creative industry. Our projects provide engaging and useful opportunities in the arts and music industry, through collaborative workshops and mentorship delivered by experienced artist facilitators who are currently active in the UK music scene.

We run workshops for young people to create new works at our partner spaces, masterclasses with industry experts, mentoring from professional artists, reputable platforms to exhibit their work to a new audience and work placements to provide pathways directly into their field.

A shared interest in helping others

Yeah Youth UK was started by Shay Mula and Capo Lee, both UK rap artists, who both come from backgrounds where access to opportunities in the creative industries was limited. Growing up, they didn’t have many pathways into music, but they found a sense of direction and belonging through making music and connecting with others in their communities. That experience shaped their understanding of how important creativity and support can be, especially for young people facing financial or social challenges.

The project came from their shared interest in not rap, but in helping others who might be facing the same barriers they once did.

They saw how much difference it makes when young people are given space to express themselves, learn from professionals, and access opportunities that are often kept out of reach.

Yeah Youth UK started as a way to make those things more accessible. It’s built on collaboration with artists and industry professionals who are active today, and it focuses on workshops, mentoring, and creative development. It’s about creating a space where young people can build skills, confidence, and even careers.

At its heart, the project is just about trying to give others the kind of support Shay and Capo would’ve appreciated growing up.

Building a better, fairer future for creatives

Both Shay Mula and Capo Lee and all of us who work with YEAH grew up using music to explore and overcome personal challenges.

That’s what we aim to pass on. Yeah Youth UK is about making sure young people from vulnerable backgrounds don’t get left out of creative spaces because of lack of money, social connections or confidence problems. We’ve met so many talented young people who just haven’t had access — whether it’s equipment, industry knowledge, or simply someone to tell them their ideas matter. We created this organisation so they don’t have to figure it all out alone.

The impact we’ve seen already has been powerful. Sometimes it’s as simple as someone coming out of their shell during a workshop, or feeling proud to perform something they made for the first time.

Other times, it’s a young person landing a placement or meeting a mentor who helps them see a future in music or the arts. These moments can change someone’s path — because when you feel supported, you start to believe in your own potential.

For us, Yeah Youth UK is about giving back, but also about building a better future — one where the creative industries are more open, diverse, and fair. We just want to create the kind of support we wish we had when we were starting out.

Helping young people find their voice

One of the biggest moments for us so far was working with Ditto Management on a project that gave a group of young people the chance to write, record, and release their own music — and perform it live in front of their friends and family.

A lot of them had never been in a pro studio before, never performed in front of a big crowd. Through workshops and mentoring, we helped them build confidence, find their voice, and understand how the music process really works, from writing lyrics to recording and even shooting a proper music video.

The live performance at the end hit different. Watching them step on stage and perform something they created from scratch, in front of people who matter to them, was emotional. You could literally see the shift in how they carried themselves. It wasn’t just about the music; it was about showing up for themselves, being proud, and feeling like they had something real to say.

For us, moments like that are what this is all about: not changing who they are, but helping them realize what they’re capable of when given the chance. It’s those experiences that stick with you and can genuinely shift someone's path.

Trust doesn’t always come easy

We’ve definitely faced some real challenges along the way, especially working with young people who’ve come from tough situations — some involved in gangs, some in and out of the care system, others just trying to get by in environments where there’s not much support. A lot of the young people we work with have had to grow up fast, and trust doesn’t come easy — especially when they’ve been let down before.

At times, it’s been hard to keep engagement consistent. Some young people turn up late, some disappear for a bit and come back. We get it — life’s not always stable for them, and this might be the first space they’ve been in where they’re treated with patience and respect. We’ve had to learn how to meet them where they’re at, not where we expect them to be.

What’s helped is building genuine relationships — no judgment, no pressure, just consistency. Having mentors and facilitators who’ve come from similar backgrounds makes a massive difference. The young people can relate, and they know they’re not being talked down to. We also try to create spaces that feel safe but still real — not too polished, not too corporate, just somewhere they can express themselves and not feel out of place.

It’s not always smooth, but when you see a young person who was quiet or guarded start to open up — that makes every challenge worth it. 

Learning, experimenting, sharing

A typical Yeah Youth UK workshop is full of energy the minute you walk in. 

We run different stations depending on the day — one corner might be set up with decks for DJing, another for lyric writing, someone in the booth laying down vocals, a filmmaker showing young people how to shoot and direct their own music video. Everyone’s hands-on. No one's just watching — they’re in it, learning, experimenting, sharing.

The mentors — DJs, rappers, producers, videographers — are all working artists who’ve been through the grind themselves. They’re not here to lecture, they’re here to build with the young people. That peer-to-peer energy is real. You’ll see someone who’s been coming a while showing a newcomer how to chop up a beat or encouraging someone nervous to step up to the mic. It’s all about support and collaboration.

Even if someone comes in quiet or unsure, by the end of the session they’re usually connecting with others, bouncing ideas, and trying something new. There’s no pressure to be perfect, just to show up, get involved, and see where it takes you.

We’re not just teaching skills — we’re building confidence, community, and creativity all in one space. And after all that creative exertion - there's always pizza.

The key to making it all work

We run a variety of events, from writing workshops for young women to cyphers at Balamii Radio, industry panels, and hands-on sessions like beat-making workshops and studio time at Pirate Studios. But pulling these events together isn’t without its challenges — there’s a lot of moving parts behind the scenes.

One of the biggest hurdles is managing the logistics of each event. For example, when we plan a writing workshop, especially for young women, we have to ensure we’re creating a safe, supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing. That means finding the right facilitators, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and sometimes working through personal or cultural barriers that young women might face when expressing themselves creatively. It’s not just about showing up and running a session — it’s about being sensitive to the group’s needs, which can change each time.

When it comes to the cyphers at Balamii Radio, the biggest challenge is getting everyone organised and making sure the session flows smoothly. That involves everything from coordinating transport for the young people, making sure they’ve got their tracks ready to go, and prepping the technical side of the broadcast. Sometimes things don’t go to plan — like when equipment breaks down or people show up late — and that’s when we really have to rely on our team to stay flexible and keep things moving.

The industry panels are a whole other beast. Booking the right speakers, making sure they’re available on the right day, and managing expectations from both the panelists and the young people is tricky. On top of that, we need to make sure we’ve got the right space, tech, and materials for everyone to be engaged and get the most out of it. It’s a lot of prep, and often there’s a lot of back-and-forth to nail down details.

Then, with beat-making workshops and Pirate Studios sessions, the challenge is the technical side of things. It’s not just about bringing in the gear; it’s about making sure the young people have enough time to learn, experiment, and feel confident using the equipment. Studios like Pirate are amazing, but coordinating access and making sure everyone’s ready to hit the ground running takes a lot of planning. We also have to manage the schedules of producers and engineers who donate their time to help guide the young people — they’re busy, so aligning everyone’s schedules can sometimes be a logistical nightmare.

That’s where a reliable ticketing service can really make a difference. For events that need a sign-up or registration, using a ticket service helps streamline the process, making it easier for young people to secure their spot and for us to track attendance. It’s a huge help in terms of organisation. Plus, it means we can control the number of attendees, making sure we have enough space and materials for everyone who shows up.

The key to making it all work is constant communication, adaptability, and having a team that’s ready to handle the unexpected.

It’s not about flashy marketing

Getting the word out about Yeah Youth UK has always been a mix of old-school and new-school. We’re active on social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are key for showing the behind-the-scenes energy of our workshops, performances, and collaborations. It’s a great way to connect with young people and build a community online.

But we’re also about face-to-face connections. We do a lot of flyering and attend events where we can meet people directly. Networking with other youth organisations and industry professionals is huge for us too — building those relationships helps us connect more young people with the resources and opportunities they need.

That said, the real magic has been in word of mouth. Over time, Yeah Youth UK has become a bit of an underground favorite — a space where young people know they’ll find support, creativity, and real industry connections.

Once they’ve been part of it, they spread the word, and that’s been key to our growth. It’s not about flashy marketing, it’s about building something that feels real, authentic, and that people want to be a part of. The buzz has just built on its own from there.

Looking to the future 

The future for Yeah Youth UK is about expanding what we’re already doing — giving more young people the chance to break into the music and arts scene. We’re looking at growing our partnerships and bringing in more industry professionals to offer real opportunities. We also want to eventually launch our own music label to help elevate the talent we’re working with. It’ll be a space where we can not only nurture young artists but also help them get their music out there and connect with the right people.

Beyond that, we’ll keep focusing on workshops, mentorships, and collaborations, but we’re all about keeping it real and giving young people the tools to succeed on their terms. The aim is to make Yeah Youth UK a solid platform for those looking to make a mark, while also building a community where everyone supports each other’s growth.

😌 Ticket Tailor + Yeah Youth UK = a perfect match 

We chose Ticket Tailor as our ticketing partner because it’s an easy-to-use platform that fits perfectly with how we run things at Yeah Youth UK. Ultimately, it gives us the flexibility and tools to streamline event management, from registration to live check-ins, while giving us the insights we need to continue improving our approach and engagement. It keeps things simple, so we can stay focused on what matters most: empowering young people and delivering high-quality, impactful events. 

✅ Simple & effective

With a range of events, from workshops and industry panels to live performances, we needed a ticketing service that could keep up with our dynamic needs. Ticket Tailor’s simplicity is key — it’s user-friendly, which means we can focus on delivering the event experience without getting bogged down in complex systems.

⚙️Marketing tools

What’s been especially useful are the built-in marketing tools. We can easily create custom ticket links for different events, which we share across our Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. This helps drive engagement quickly and efficiently, allowing us to connect directly with the young people we’re serving.

📲 Live check-in app

On event days, Ticket Tailor makes managing things even easier with their live check-in app. We can scan tickets and monitor attendance in real-time, which helps us stay organised and ensure the event runs smoothly. It also gives us instant access to data — from who’s attended to how many tickets we’ve sold or distributed. That kind of insight is invaluable, allowing us to adjust in the moment if needed and measure the impact of each event.

💸 Cheaper & easier to use than Eventbrite 

We’ve used Eventbrite before, but we found it to be more complex and often overkill for the smaller, community-focused events we run. It sometimes felt a bit too much for what we needed and had additional fees that didn’t always make sense for us.

Ticket Tailor, on the other hand, has been much simpler to use. It's straightforward, with easy options to customize tickets for different events, and there are no hidden fees. It’s a great fit for our events, and the support has been excellent. Overall, it’s been a much more efficient platform for us.

🖌️Seamless integration & customisation

The platform integrates seamlessly with our workflow. Whether we’re managing free workshops or ticketed performances, we can customize the process to meet our needs — ensuring that our young people can easily register and attend without unnecessary barriers.

📈 Valuable tracking & reporting

The ability to track everything from ticket sales to attendance has also made it easier for us to adjust and make sure we’re providing the best experience possible for everyone involved. It’s all about using the data to help us improve and keep things running smoothly. For example, Event Reports give us a clear picture of how things are going, like how many tickets we’ve sold, where they’re coming from, and even how smoothly the check-ins are going on the day. It’s been a big help in staying on top of things, especially when we’re running multiple events at once.

💛 A big thanks

A huge thanks to Jo for immersing us in the world and work of Yeah Youth UK. We’ve loved learning about this incredible initiative and are sure our readers will have, too. 

Find out more about Yeah Youth UK >

Feeling inspired? Find out more about how Ticket Tailor can bring your community initiative to life with feature-packed, low-cost ticketing for workshops and classes >