Youth Visionaries CIC empowers young creatives to fund their futures

MILTON KEYNES, England — Twenty young artists, musicians, filmmakers and grassroots cultural workers gained the skills to fund their creative work through a three-part training programme led by Youth Visionaries CIC, a social enterprise based in Milton Keynes, July 2025. The initiative, backed by a national arts funding programme, aimed to close a persistent gap in fundraising knowledge among emerging creatives.

Participants entered the programme with limited understanding of how to secure funding but left with practical plans, budgets and strategies to pursue grants, partnerships and income streams. The project, called Creative Fundraisers MK, combined an in-person workshop with two online sessions designed to build confidence and technical fundraising skills.

The programme was funded by a £2,350 grant from Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy, administered by Cause4 and supported by Arts Council England. The agreement was signed by Zion Oshiobugie, founder and director of Youth Visionaries CIC, and Annie Jarvis, head of programme at Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy.

Oshiobugie, a youth-focused leader working to expand opportunities for underserved young people across the United Kingdom, said the programme demonstrated how quickly barriers can be broken when access and guidance are provided.

“Creative Fundraisers MK showed us that when young creatives are given the right tools, support and belief, they move from uncertainty to action,” Oshiobugie said in the project evaluation. “It unlocked confidence, leadership and a sense of possibility.”

Founded in April 2025, Youth Visionaries CIC focuses on young people ages 16 to 25, particularly those facing social and economic barriers. The organisation delivers programmes in employability, wellbeing and creative development and was awarded the Milton Keynes Council Youth Provision Safe Practice Mark in July 2025, recognizing its safeguarding standards.

The training addressed a broader national issue. While arts and cultural organisations make up a significant portion of U.K. charities, fundraising skills are rarely taught to early-career creatives. The programme introduced participants to governance structures, funding eligibility and ethical fundraising practices, alongside practical tools such as writing grant applications and building fundraising strategies.

Participants developed case statements, mapped income sources and learned how to present their work effectively to funders. They were also introduced to major funding bodies, including Arts Council England and regional foundations, and trained to evaluate strong and weak funding applications.

By the end of the programme, participants reported increased confidence in approaching funders and a clearer understanding of how to structure projects and budgets. Many described a shift from uncertainty to having actionable next steps.

The initiative also created lasting resources, including a fundraising workbook, recorded sessions and a peer network connecting young creatives across Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy, led by CEO Michelle Wright and Jarvis, aims to strengthen fundraising skills across the arts sector and develop new talent pipelines. Its Networks Funding programme supports small-scale initiatives designed to build capacity and leadership.

Youth Visionaries CIC plans to expand on the programme, signaling further investment in leadership and fundraising support for young people. For Oshiobugie, the project represents a broader impact beyond training.

By equipping young creatives with the tools to sustain their work, he is helping shape a generation that is no longer dependent on gatekeepers but capable of building its own opportunities.

Youth Visionaries CIC (Company No. 16355763) is regulated by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies. Creative Fundraisers MK was delivered in partnership with Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy.