How the Young Urban Arts Foundation empowers artists with music and community in London

Funding for the arts in the UK has drastically declined over the past few years.This makes community-driven initiatives more crucial than ever, and organizations like the Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) are stepping up. They’re providing vital spaces where young people can explore, develop, and hone their artistic skills in supportive, dynamic, and well-connected environments.

The charity’s hands-on approach includes a dedicated team of producers, songwriters, and youth workers that take their expertise directly to the streets and schools, operating from a uniquely renovated double-decker bus.

We joined Crack Magazine to showcase the community YUAF has helped champion. Our coverage offers a glimpse into the vibrant atmosphere as young people experimented with new beats on the double-decker bus, now equipped with the new Native Instruments gear, including Traktor S2 units and Maschine Mikros.

These cutting-edge music-making platforms will significantly elevate the DJing and beat-making skills of the young people they serve, providing access to professional-grade tools and allowing young artists to explore their creative potential with industry-standard equipment.

We also spoke with YUAF founder Indigo Reign (Kerry O’Brien) and DJ Carly Wilford about their mission to foster a sense of community, connect young artists with like-minded individuals, and open doors to real-life creative opportunities in the future.

Can you tell us more about the Young Urban Arts Foundation and its mission? What specific needs or challenges among young Londoners are you addressing through your programs?

The Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF), est, 2009, is a registered charity that empowers young people through access to music, creativity and pathways into opportunities and careers.

Our mission is simple. We meet young people where they are, both physically in their communities (via our Outreach Studio Bus) and emotionally on their journeys. Many of the young people we engage with face significant barriers. Whether that’s exposure to violence, lack of creative opportunities, or struggles with mental health.

Music is a powerful tool for transformation. It keeps young people safe, provides an emotional outlet, builds confidence, and equips them with real skills that can open doors to new opportunities. More than that, mindset is everything. When young people start to believe in their own potential, see others who look like them thriving, and gain access to real industry pathways, the transformation is profound.

We’ve seen firsthand how creative expression can shift perspectives, unlock self-belief and create a sense of belonging. YUAF isn’t just about providing music programs, it’s about building an ecosystem of community, trust, realness, opportunity and empowerment. Every young person deserves to feel seen, heard and supported.

What are some goals you’re hoping to achieve by providing access to Traktor, Maschine, and other NI tools to young creatives in the outreach bus?

Historically, we haven’t been able to offer structured DJ lessons due to limited resources and equipment. Thanks to Native Instruments we can now run DJ workshops in the main studio of our Studio Bus, something that wasn’t possible before.

Many DJs begin their journey on Traktor and its affordability makes it a realistic long-term option for young creatives. Now, with 11 fully-equipped workstations we can host live DJ masterclasses, giving young people hands-on experience in mixing, beat-matching and live performance.

One of the most exciting aspects is that we can now loan Traktor controllers to aspiring DJs so they can practice at home beyond their lessons. This tackles a major barrier we’ve faced in the past, allowing young people to continue learning and honing their skills outside of sessions.

Maschine offers such an innovative way to bring artists’ sets to life, from programming live DJ sets and adding layers to live performances. Up until now, we have only had one Maschine for our tutor station, now every student station has Maschine Mikro which is going to enhance the production experience for the young people, making beat making even more fun, especially for those who have different learning abilities and many who are neurodiverse.

Beyond the technical skills of creating music, what other benefits do you see this program providing to young people? Does it foster collaboration, or other valuable skills?

Absolutely, while technical skills are a huge part of what we offer, the real magic happens in the personal growth young people experience.

Collaboration is a huge part of the music-making process. In our workshops, young creatives learn to communicate, share ideas and co-create, mirroring the way professional producers and DJs work in the industry. It’s not just about learning how to mix or produce, it’s about developing confidence, resilience, and teamwork.

Music also provides a safe space for self-expression. Many of the young people we work with have experienced trauma or instability. Being able to create, whether through DJing, beat-making or songwriting, gives them a voice and a way to process emotions and tell their stories.

Ultimately, this program isn’t just about music, it’s about empowering young people to believe in themselves, connect with others and develop transferable skills that they can take into any career or creative endeavour.

What are the future plans for this program? Do you hope to expand it, reach more young people, or incorporate other music production tools or technologies?

The dream is always to reach more young people and remove more barriers to access. Now that we have Traktor and Maschine on board, we’re able to offer a more structured pathway for young creatives to develop their skills and progress into professional opportunities.

We’d love to expand our reach beyond London, taking the Studio Bus to more communities where young people don’t have access to creative technology. We’re also exploring new partnerships to bring in additional production tools, helping young people experience the full spectrum of music creation.

Another exciting prospect is developing an alumni network “Backstage”. A space where young creatives who have come through YUAF can mentor the next generation and have access to paid opportunities through our brand partnerships. This way, we create a cycle of empowerment, ensuring that what starts as an opportunity today turns into a long-term career tomorrow.

Kerry, could you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to found the Young Urban Arts Foundation?

I was born into chaos at Holloway Prison, to a mother serving time. My father was deeply involved in crime and my early years were marked by instability, poverty and survival. I grew up in an environment where options felt limited and I saw how easy it was to get caught in a cycle that seemed impossible to escape.

Music became more than just an escape, it was a lifeline. It connected me to mentors, to people who genuinely cared and to a world beyond what I knew. Without those key influences, without those people who saw something in me before I saw it in myself, my story could have been very different.

I was at a crossroads. One where the wrong step could have taken me down a very different path. Instead, I was given an opportunity. There wasn’t a single defining moment but a series of moments. People, music and experiences that guided me towards something greater. One of those was my time in New York, immersed in hip-hop culture, battling, learning and seeing that there was more out there for me. That trip shifted my perspective, it made me realise that my voice had power.

That’s why I founded the Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) because I know that access to creativity, mentorship and opportunity can change lives. I wanted to create the kind of support system I never had growing up. A space where young people feel seen, heard and empowered. Through our Studio Bus, we bring creativity directly into communities, offering young people a way to express themselves, heal and build self-belief.

For me, music was never just about sound, it was about survival, transformation and rewriting my story. Now, through YUAF, I’m helping the next generation rewrite theirs.

And Carly, from your perspective as a DJ and musician, what insights or wisdom would you share with young people who aspire to follow a similar path and find their place in the music world?

Just know that anything is possible. If you have a dream backed up by a plan then it’s such an exciting time to launch an artist career. Whether you want to be a music producer, an artist or a DJ, there are so many platforms and tools that can help you to launch your project. Know who you are, really think about your sound and how you would like the world to see you.

How would that look visually? What lineups do you sit on? What labels would you like to release on or would you like to do things independently? Imagine yourself as the CEO of your own business and make decisions based on knowing what your end goal is. Work hard, don’t get disheartened by closed doors, and collaborate with the people around you. Most importantly, always put the music first no matter what.

Be inspired by young artists living their dreams

This collaboration between YUAF and Native Instruments bridges the power of community and technology in fostering young talent in underrepresented communities. It’s also another milestone reached in our mission to empower and inspire creators. We hope you’re inspired by these young artists to create your own music-making communities, or join a local organization that has a similar mission. And if you’re passionate about fostering the next generation of musicians, consider supporting the Young Urban Arts Foundation in London with a donation.

Donate to YUAF