External Resources

The EFDSS actively promotes activities, knowledge, and preservation of English folk arts, but they are also a rich resource for information about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, advice and training related to safeguarding. And their Resources page provides a wide variety of resources for engaging diverse populations of a variety of ages.

The Musicians’ Union represents more than 34,000 musicians across the UK. In addition to negotiating for its members, the MU provides information and training on a variety of topics – including Equality Rights. Much of this information is available to non-members.

This is a disability-led organisation with a mission to connect disabled people with music that works with the live event industry to improve access. In addition to training and information, they provide a number of free publications that provide guidance on how to make your event more accessible.

Drake Music is a national arts charity that promotes the use of accessible music technology to enable more people to make music. Their website provides information, training, and resources about how to run inclusive events, technologies that can help dismantle barriers, and guidance on understanding the social model of disability. 

This is a charity commissioning extraordinary artworks, backing disabled artists, challenging the cultural sector and changing perceptions of disability.

This community works together to address gender and other inequalities in Scottish folk and traditional music. Their website catalogues resources for getting help, reporting gender-based violence, research reports, and more.

This is a grassroots collective of people working to address gender equality in the English folk scene. Their website includes an index of resources to help you with issues like safeguarding and safer spaces, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, guidance on reporting abuse and harassment, and many other related topics.

This is an Irish organisation that advocates for gender balance in the production, performance, promotion, and development of Irish traditional and folk music. Their website is provides an example of an anti-harassment policy that can be adapted to your event.

This is a community interest company that works to create safe and accountable spaces for music, arts, and cultural life. They provide training aimed at responding to and preventing sexual violence. Their website provides a plethora of resources, guides, and checklists to help you plan a safe event.

Working class creatives are struggling to break into and are leaving the arts. Class Ceiling, led by RISE Associates has carried out research into the lived experiences of creatives and found that barriers preventing working class talent from succeeding included class-based discrimination, low pay, a lack of connections and exploitative practices.

Sutton Trust is a charitable organisation that supports social mobility through educational programme and research. Use this website to find out more about how class and education influence access to opportunities. The work of this charity isn’t specific to folk music, but it can help provide a context for understanding some differences in lived experiences that are based on socioeconomic factors. 

This charitable organisation exists to address structural racism in the music industry and support equal opportunities for Black, Asian, and Ethnically Diverse musicians. Their website provides free access to data, research, and reports about the current state of the UK music industry and challenges experienced by racialised musicians.

This organisation runs events and campaigns, and produces training resources that focus on using music to build communities and combat experiences of racism. Their website provides free access to anti-racist eLearning resources.

A group of artists and organisers committed to highlighting Black contributions to British folk music. Some more information can be found here.

If you’re planning to work with children or youth, you’ll need to make sure you’re providing appropriate safeguards. Brass Band England provides a suite of free resources, tools, and training that will help you understand relevant guidelines and protections that you’ll need. In addition to free resources, members of the EFDSS can access their online BandSafe training for the same fee as BBE members.

Music Mark is a membership organisation and subject association that connects music educators and campaigns for diverse, accessible, and government-supported music education. Their website provides information about training and events, as well as resource packs targeted at music educators working within formal education systems.

We turn data into action – helping young people not just make music but make a living from it. 

Our research drives change, holding us accountable as a bold, equitable changemaker.

This is an intersectional, feminist session and song index. The contributors respect the history and tradition of shanties, but also respect the diversity of people who come to sing and socialise in their spaces. Some songs are edited to make sure they’re not perpetuating discriminatory views.

The EATMT is a Suffolk-based charity that promotes participation in the folk traditions of East Anglia. Their Vaughan Williams' Folk project provides a great example of how heritage can be mobilised in a variety of formats to engage youth and community audiences. 

Fèis Rois is a Scotland-based charity that provides access and education in the traditional arts and Gaelic language. Their Fun Folk App provides an example of how digital technology can be used to support parents and young children engage with traditional arts, including singing. 

Curated by researcher and musician Lucy Wright, this website highlights the folk arts of marginalised groups. The various projects included on the site begin to demonstrate the scope and breadth of folk culture in the United Kingdom.

Based in Somerset, Halsway Manor is the National Centre for Folk Arts. It offers year-round residential courses and workshops that focus on a variety of traditional art forms, including song and music. Their Halsway Young Folk music programme caters specifically for youth of a range of ages and experience levels. 

This is an example of a project that combines history, folk song, and theatre, to raise awareness of a variety of socioeconomic and colonial legacy issues that influence present day inequalities. 

Tradfolk.co was put together to celebrate traditional folk culture now – folk music, folk dance, folk arts and crafts, even folk food (if there is such a thing – we’re still on the lookout for it) as they exist in modern life.

One of many regional Folk magazine with news, reviews, interviews and features. Plus listings covering folk music, dance and song events in Greater London and beyond. They also include a useful Folk FAQ for new visitors to the folk scene.

This is a free resource hub run by the Arts Marketing Association. The focus is on advice about how to engage the public in the arts, heritage, and culture. You don’t need to be a member to browse and use their resources.

This charity uses audience research to help cultural organisations increase their relevance, reach, and resilience. Their website provides free access to a range of articles, guides, and case studies that can help you better understand the community you're trying to reach.

Applying for grants and other forms of funding often requires assessing the impact of your activities. The Centre for Cultural Value is a University of Leeds-based research centre that provides a variety of free resources to get you started on evaluating your impact.

This is a UK Registered Charity that protects, secures, and improves grassroots music venues. You’ll find information about planning, licensing, safety, environmental issues, and many other topics relevant to organising events.