The Paul Hamlyn Foundation initiated Musical Futures in 2003 to find new and imaginative ways of engaging young people in meaningful and sustainable music activities. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation investment enabled the testing of a series of models and approaches through a series of pathfinder programmes followed by a national rollout of Musical Futures via resource development and dissemination, a Continuing Professional Development programme, the establishment of a community of practice, and related events and advocacy. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation trustees agreed in July 2014 to provide a £1.2m transition grant to support Musical Futures to become an independent not-for-profit organisation during the period August 2014 – March 2017.