DD Day 2025 electronic music education initiative

funded by you & The Big Give

How The Big Give Works – 18-25 March

For 1 week, between 18-25 MARCH, up to £2000 of donations given to us via the Big Give platform will be DOUBLED with TWICE the impact. At a time when participation of people from working class and low-income household backgrounds in the creative industries is in crisis, Delia is a great role model to support, encourage and inspire young people to create electronic music and learn audio engineering.

This is the first time we are asking individuals for financial contributions, so we hope we can exceed our £2000 target (which results in £2000 added by the Big Give). If we do go beyond the £2000 target, your support will help us replace our 6 obsolete ipads for use by workshop participants.

About our Big Give electronic music education campaign

Situation

Recent data provides stark evidence of a crisis of inequality in music education impacting on careers in electronic music and the creative industries. Demos (2025) recently found “a £160m black hole in the music education budget in England”, a Sutton Trust report (2024) talks of  “the domination of the creative industries by the better off,”  while 6% of recognised music producers are women (USC Annenberg, 2025) and 89% of Black female music creators report barriers to progression (Black Lives in Music, 2021).

Despite electronic music genres having deep roots in scenes borne out of marginalised communities and their experiences, we are now seeing the very same groups having less access to creating music and being able to break through. The music industry and education bodies urgently need to take steps towards meaningful change and inclusion. This requires research and educational design to understand the real needs of under-represented participants from a young age.

Solution

Investment in research into under-represented participants and electronic music education is essential to address systemic barriers. We will consult with Greater Manchester schools to investigate how to do this, then design and deliver accessible courses, and share this with the sector so that all benefit and can take action.

We have crucial insight to approach this as our work delivers uniquely accessible electronic music workshops to schools in areas experiencing deprivation. So far we have supported 2035 children to build confidence & competence to create music in workshops led by professional artists. Our sessions have supported young people to shine and thrive, while developing skills such as teamwork. We are guided by the pioneering Doctor Who producer Delia Derbyshire, a self defined “working class girl” whose music and techniques mean that almost anyone can try out inventive DIY approaches while having fun and expressing themselves.

What we will do with your help:

• Listen to 10 Manchester primary schools, finding out what they want and need, in partnership with One Education Music (the biggest music education provider in Manchester);

• Produce an electronic music education needs analysis report that benefits schools nationally, in partnership with Brighter Sound (who produced a broader young people in music needs analysis in 2023)

• Respond with pilot music making projects in schools and teacher training

• If we exceed the £2000 target, we want to replace our 6 obsolete ipads with reconditioned ipads, run more projects in schools and therefore work with more children this year.

Support our campaign by sharing and donating

SAVE THE DATE: 18 MARCH at 12pm

THANK YOU