We are very pleased to announce the appointment of two Co-Chairs to lead our board of trustees: Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact at Sony Music UK, Charlotte Edgeworth and triple MOBO award-winning rapper, Isaac Borquaye, aka Guvna B.
Following the recent search and recruitment process, the appointment of Co-Chairs is a first for us and further bolsters our board which saw six new trustees join last year.
The news comes as we gear up for our 25th anniversary this year. There are a number of notable activations planned to mark the milestone, including an in-depth ‘Sounds of the Next Generation’ (SONG) report, exploring the latest trends in young people’s music consumption and participation. In addition, we will continue raising awareness of the funding crisis facing grassroots music, ahead of a special anniversary edition of the annual Youth Music Awards later this year.
Both Charlotte and Isaac demonstrated exceptional leadership and a collaborative approach to serve Youth Music’s core mission, equalising young people’s access to making, learning and earning in music. This comes at a time when the charity is tackling unprecedented demand for its services and funding.
Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music, says: “We are really excited about the appointment of Charlotte and Isaac. Both offer an in depth understanding of the issues young people face and a determination to make positive change. We simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to benefit from both of their expertise.”
Charlotte joined Sony Music UK in 2021 to lead on community programmes, charity partnerships and embedding equitable and inclusive practices across the company. She is regarded as a trailblazer in the industry and is keen to find ways for organisations to have a positive impact on their communities, their employees and wider society.
Guvna B is a hugely influential and established voice in the British rap community, as well as being a best-selling author and broadcaster, with his most recent album debuting at number one on the Official Hip-Hop and R&B charts in 2023. He is dedicated to ensuring every young person reaches their full potential and wants to build a stronger bridge between young communities and the arts.
Together, they will bring a combination of hands-on experience, industry insights and determination to support young people, regardless of their background.
Charlotte Edgeworth says: “Having long admired the work of Youth Music, it is an honour to be appointed as Co-Chair in a demonstrably values-driven organisation. Its approach to inclusion and equity in bringing access to music to young people across the UK is unrivalled.
“I am excited to be taking this role in collaboration with Isaac and hope that together with the committed staff and board, we can build upon 25 years of fantastic work to positively impact even more young people!”
Isaac Borquaye says: “It is my foundational belief that everyone should find a young person to believe in. I’m more passionate than ever to help facilitate this because of the challenging times many are experiencing in the UK today. Youth Music has a robust strategy, solid infrastructure and proven track-record in using music to change the lives of young people for the better.
“There is a lot of work to do but the opportunity for positive change is huge. It’s a privilege to be able to work in collaboration with such an empathetic, driven and fresh organisation.”
