Did you know that we have a Y Not Trust?
The Y Not Trust is a dedicated pot of money that we use to provide funding to improve the quality of life in the local Derbyshire area.
This means that we give money to local charities and organisations every year, supporting initiatives that promote the well-being, health, and development of individuals and communities, as well as funding projects that address social, economic, and environmental issues, empowering marginalised or disadvantaged groups.
In 2025, for the first time ever, we will be opening applications for the Y Not Trust to the public.
If you are part of a local initiative that you think would benefit from funding from the Y Not Trust, keep an eye out – applications will open in Spring 2025!
WHO THE TRUST SUPPORTS
The Y Not Trust provides grants and funding for projects, organisations that provide opportunities and activities which sit in the following key pillars:
LOCAL COMMUNITY
Local organisations, charities, and grassroots initiatives can apply for grants to support community-driven projects. The trust will focus on providing funding that helps improve the quality of life in the Derbyshire area. We encourage applicants from a wide range of sectors, including health, education, the environment and social welfare.
FUTURE GENERATIONS
Focusing investing in projects that will benefit & inspire the youth in the local community, ensuring a positive legacy for future generations.
PEOPLE AND PLANET
Emphasising the connection between people, their environment, and the need for community driven sustainability efforts. Including initiatives that promote social equality and environmental stewardship.
DERBYSHIRE ARTS AND CULTURE
Arts and culture are essential in enriching lives and creating a sense of identity within a community. We here at Y Not want to support projects that celebrate and promote local culture and creativity.
In previous years, we’ve been able to support some fantastic charities and organisations, including:
Child Bereavement UK – £12,755.83 Raised in 2024
Ashbourne Cricket Club
Local Youth Football Team Mayfield FC
Ashbourne RUFC under 7’s
Pikehall Community Defibrillator
Parwich Memorial Hall
Parwich Village School
“Parwich School are extremely grateful for the Y Not donation. This year, we are exploring, costing and beginning to fundraise to update our Early Years outdoor learning area, which will be a big expense. The donation will help us on the road to achieving our goal.” – PARWICH PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADTEACHER
Neuroblastoma UK Fighting Childhood Cancer
After learning about Mason Hughes, a six year old from Derby and his courageous battle with stage-four neuroblastoma, the Y Not Festival team felt compelled to support the fight against childhood cancer. Mason’s journey, filled with immense strength and resilience, deeply moved everyone at Y Not. Following their meeting with Mason, Y Not Festival made a donation to Neuroblastoma UK, a charity dedicated to advancing research and treatments for children like Mason.
Charity T Shirts – NHS Donation during COVID
In 2020, Y Not Festival released the “I Bet It Doesn’t Rain This Year” T-shirt as a lighthearted nod to UK festival weather. With the event cancelled due to COVID-19, the shirt offered a comedic twist while raising funds for the NHS. All proceeds went directly to NHS charities, allowing fans to support essential healthcare workers during a challenging time. The T-shirt became a symbol of community spirit and resilience, bringing a bit of festival humour to a difficult year.
If you have any questions regarding the trust and our work within the community, please feel free to get in touch on hello@ynotfestival.com
PROMOTION OF THE ARTS
BAND APP
Every year, Y Not Festival launches our Band App, inviting fresh talent from our local and wider community to apply for the chance to perform on our stages. This is our annual discovery to find future Y Not headliners, offering paid slots across a range of our main stages.
Once all applications are in, we carefully review and shortlist the top acts. Then, a selection panel of local music experts, including BBC Introducing East Midlands, and a public vote will help secure over 25+ performance slots for emerging artists each year.
In the years, we’ve proudly featured over 250 rising artists from across the UK. Notable alumni include Deco, Raised By Owls, The Rosadocs, The Skinner Brothers & Michael Aldag — all previously hand selected by BBC Introducing, DIY & Dork Magazine, This Feeling, Scruff Of The Neck and more.
Band App 2025 will open soon—don’t miss the chance to be part of it!
NURTURING LOCAL TALENT
Y Not Festival proudly champions local talent, collaborating with local promoters like The Herron Brothers, who bring the best of Derbyshire’s hyper-local scene, and Manchester indie label Scruff of the Neck, spotlighting the freshest regional music. Together, we support and showcase incredible emerging artists from our community.
One of our core goals is to continue booking and supporting locally based acts. We’re committed to providing a stage for rising artists while also celebrating established acts with roots in Derbyshire and the surrounding areas.
BBC INTRODUCING EAST MIDLANDS
Since 2014, we’ve proudly partnered with BBC Introducing East Midlands, who curate, host, and broadcast live from our second-biggest stage. Y Not Festival and BBC Introducing offer 9 slots to the rising stars in the east midlands, giving them the incredible opportunity to perform to a festival audience on a major stage
Previous success stories include Jake Bugg, who first played our BBC Introducing stage in 2011 and returned in 2024 to headline the Quarry stage; Holly Humberstone, who debuted as a BBC Introducing act in 2019 and played the main stage third from the top in 2024; and rising star Alessi Rose from Derby, who performed in 2024 and is tipped for big things to come.
CHARITY TICKET PACKAGES
In 2024, Y Not Festival donated 500 tickets to Tickets for Good, making them available to members of charities and organisations that support individuals who may not typically have the chance to attend live music events.
These tickets have no face-value cost, with Tickets for Good only charging a small booking fee to cover their overheads. By donating tickets, Y Not is helping to break down barriers to live events for those who may face physical, financial, work-related, or personal challenges.
Currently, Tickets for Good is supporting NHS workers, giving them the chance to unwind and enjoy live events that reduce stress, boost mental health, and recognise their hard work.
If you’re an NHS worker, you can learn more on the Tickets for Good website.
