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Annual Impact Report 2024-2025

Future Yard is a community music venue and social enterprise in Birkenhead combining a live events programme with youth-focused training and outreach. In 2024/25 its Sound Check scheme trained a record 166 young people in live event skills, while family and youth programmes (Mosh Tots, New Noise) and a free Neighbourhood Tickets Scheme extended access to one of the UK's most deprived local areas.

Report snapshot
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About

Sound Check free training in live sound, lighting and event production; Propeller artist development and business support programme; Mosh Tots family gigs for young children; New Noise Music Centre for 11-16 year olds; Future Yard x Schools primary music curriculum pilot; Neighbourhood Tickets Scheme for local low-income residents

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 1,363 young members attended Future Yard's youth and community music programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2 166 participants enrolled on the Sound Check live-events training programme, the highest cohort yet
Key Metric 3 1,091 free tickets distributed through the Neighbourhood Tickets Scheme, a 50%+ increase on the prior year

Key Outcomes

  • 90% of Sound Check participants reported an increase in skills and sector awareness, and 91% an increase in confidence
  • 100% of eligible New Noise participants achieved Arts Award accreditation in 2024/25
  • 72.5% of audience survey respondents said their visit to Future Yard positively changed their perspective of Birkenhead

Geography

North West

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
10,224 pupils supported through Theatre and Film Festivals and workshops in 2023/24
Key Metric 2
8,775 young people performed across 67 partner theatres in the Theatre Festival
Key Metric 3
604 teachers supported to develop their skills through resources and workshops
100% of surveyed teachers reported their students had greater pride in themselves following the Theatre Festival
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
85 freelance artists employed across education, performance and workshop programmes in 2023/24
Key Metric 2
670 sessions delivered through the Music and Dance Academies, with student enrolment rising 16% to 98 students
Key Metric 3
Over 1.3 million YouTube views and 3,600 viewers of online streamed events in 2023/24
Reconfirmed as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation for a further four years, with a 250% funding uplift