Sirlute
Sirlute is a UK-registered charity based in East London delivering free creative learning, mentoring, and training in music, fashion, gaming, and multimedia to young people aged 5–25 from under-resourced backgrounds, funded by grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersCity Of London, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sirlute does
Sirlute is a UK-registered charitable organisation (charity no. 1188822) headquartered on London City Island, E14, delivering free creative learning, mentoring, and training programmes to young people aged 5-25 from under-resourced backgrounds in London. Its core programme — YoungStar (or YxngStar) — covers music, fashion, game design, multimedia, creative writing, film, and photography, alongside mentoring and coaching in personal, creative, and business development. The organisation explicitly positions itself as lived-experience-led, with programmes co-designed by beneficiaries and industry professionals, and cites 700+ young people supported, 877 classes delivered, and 40,000+ free programme hours as cumulative impact since founding. It is led by Chief Executive JR Josephs and operates with a headcount of 1-10 employees.
The organisation operates a portfolio of sub-brands and services rather than a single product: Sirlute Studios provides paid recording, production, engineering, rehearsal, podcast, and film services at the London City Island facility; Shop.Sirlute sells branded merchandise via shopsirlute.com; It's A Mag Ting is a digital arts and culture magazine at magting.com; and LuteLetter is a regular subscriber newsletter. Specific youth programmes include Creative Fusion (13-16 year olds) and Music Development Camp (16-25 year olds). The organisation's distribution is direct programme delivery at owned and partner venues (schools, colleges, community organisations), with recruitment dominated by word-of-mouth and partner referrals.
Sirlute's revenue model is multi-stream and typical of a community charity: individual donations and Crowdfunder campaigns (notably a £300,000 Beyond Spaces campaign); restricted and unrestricted grants from funders including Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, Global Fund for Children, Social Enterprise Support Fund, and UnLtd UK, alongside local authority grants from Tower Hamlets Council and Hackney Council; corporate sponsorships and in-kind support from Ballymore, Canary Wharf, Selfridges, Nationwide, and Gowling WLG; affiliate/cause-marketing income via Amazon Smile and Easyfundraising; and transactional income from Sirlute Studios bookings and Shop.Sirlute merchandise. The charity is undertaking a strategic expansion through the Beyond Spaces project, with a 20-year lease on a new building and a planned seven-studio creative campus targeting 1,000 young people per year.
Sirlute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sirlute
- Legal name
- Sirlute
- Website
- https://sirlute.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sirlute is a UK-registered charity based in East London delivering free creative learning, mentoring, and training in music, fashion, gaming, and multimedia to young people aged 5–25 from under-resourced backgrounds, funded by grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sirlute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Creative Education and Mentoring
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects) (EDANAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Peer-to-Peer & Student Mentor Tutoring Platforms (EDANAGAK), Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)
Keywords
Where Sirlute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- City Of London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sirlute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Sirlute operates as a registered charity (no. 1188822) relying primarily on donations from individuals and organizations. The website prominently features donation options and a Crowdfunder campaign (Beyond Spaces) with a £300,000 goal. They also participate in Amazon Smile and Easyfundraising programmes where a portion of purchases is donated.
- Grants and Foundation Funding: Sirlute actively applies for and receives grants from various organizations and government bodies to fund their programmes. The organization explicitly states they rely heavily on grants since COVID-19.
- Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: The organization receives support from corporate sponsors including Ballymore, Canary Wharf, Selfridges, Nationwide, and Gowling WLG. Sponsors provide both financial and in-kind support.
- Studio Services and Booking Fees: Sirlute Studios offers recording, production, engineering, rehearsal, podcast, and film services from their facility at London City Island. They offer block booking options for these services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free programmes for young people aged 5-25 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Sirlute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sirlute provides free creative learning, mentoring, and training programmes for young people aged 5–25 from under-resourced backgrounds in London. Core offerings include structured workshops in music, fashion, game design, and multimedia, alongside personal, creative, and business mentoring, delivered at the organisation's East London facility and partner venues. Complementary services include a professional recording/production studio and a small merchandise line that supports fundraising.
Product overview
Sirlute is a creative charity offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes and services centred on youth creative development. The core offering is the YoungStar programme, which provides free creative learning (music, fashion, game design, multimedia) and mentoring to young people aged 5-25. This is supported by Sirlute Studios, a professional creative hub for recording, production, and film work, and Shop. Sirlute, a merchandise line that generates donations. The organisation also runs a digital magazine (It's A Mag Ting), publishes a newsletter (LuteLetter), and operates specific initiatives such as Creative Fusion and Music Development Camp targeting different age groups. A major capital project, Beyond Spaces, is underway to build a seven-studio creative campus serving over 1,000 young people annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- YxngStar: Youth programme providing creative learning and mentoring for young people aged 5-25, including music, fashion, gaming, creative writing, film and photography.
- Sirlute Studios
- Shop.Sirlute
- It's A Mag Ting
Products and services
- YoungStar (YxngStar) Free creative arts and youth empowerment programme offering workshops and mentoring in music, fashion, gaming, creative writing, and multimedia for young people aged 5–25 from under-resourced London backgrounds.
- Sirlute Studios Professional recording and creative hub at London City Island offering music recording, production, engineering, rehearsal, podcast, and film services to external clients, with block booking options.
- Shop.Sirlute Online merchandise storefront selling Sirlute-branded products at shopsirlute.com, with proceeds supporting the charity's youth programmes.
- It's A Mag Ting Digital arts and culture magazine platform featuring articles, interviews, freestyles, and cultural coverage aimed at young creatives.
- Creative Fusion Free skills programme for 13–16 year olds covering music production, filmmaking, and game design, with weekly sessions delivered by industry facilitators.
- Music Development Camp Free 8-week music development programme for 16–25 year olds combining industry masterclasses, creative sessions, and wellbeing workshops, including artist collaborations (e.g., Tinie Tempah).
Quantifiable outcome
- 747 young people supported as YoungStars
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sirlute
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sirlute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sirlute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ballymore GroupcoreProperty developer sponsor supporting Sirlute's programmes. Listed as a funder and sponsor on the main website.
- SocialArkcoreStrategic partner organization working with Sirlute on youth development initiatives.
- ELAM (East London Arts & Music)corePartner college providing educational pathway and collaboration for young creatives.
- London College of Fashion / University of the Arts LondoncoreHigher education partner in creative industries providing expertise and pathways for young people.
- Canary Wharf ManagementcoreCorporate sponsor supporting Sirlute's community programmes.
- SelfridgescoreLuxury department store partnering with Sirlute, demonstrating brand recognition and corporate support for youth creativity.
- University of CambridgeminorAcademic institution partner providing additional credibility and potential pathways for young people.
- Newham CollegecoreFurther education college providing referrals and educational pathways. Raheem joined Sirlute as a Digital IT trainee from Newham College.
- Compass WellbeingcoreMental health organization in Waltham Forest partnering to deliver a free Music & Mentoring Programme benefiting 40 young people aged 14-16.
- Ruff Sqwad ArtscoreArts organization in the community supporting Sirlute's initiatives.
- UK YouthcoreNational youth organization providing support and network for Sirlute's programmes.
- Safer LondoncoreCharity working with young Londoners providing referrals and support for at-risk youth.
- Unity LondoncoreCreative organization partner in London supporting youth development.
- True CadenceminorMusic industry partner contributing to Sirlute's creative programmes.
- Truce N TrainminorPartner organization in the music/creative space.
- The Ian Mikardo PartnershipminorEducation and youth support organization partner.
- YUCANcoreYouth organization providing referrals and support for young people.
- ArebytecoreGallery and creative space partner housing Sirlute Studios at Leamouth Peninsula.
- ARC InitiativeminorInitiative supporting Sirlute's community programmes.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sirlute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BRIT School: Free, state-funded performing and creative-arts school for 14-19 year-olds in the UK. Comparable creative-industry training outcomes and fee-free model, but operates as a formal school with significant public funding rather than a grassroots charity.
- Youth Music: National UK charity funding and supporting music-making projects for children and young people experiencing disadvantage. Acts as a sector funder/incumbent that competes with and complements grassroots charities like Sirlute for grant allocation.
Direct peers
- Roundhouse: London-based creative youth charity running music, performing arts, and creative-media programmes for 11-25 year-olds. Directly comparable in target demographic, free programme model, and creative-industry pathways for under-represented youth.
- Sound Connections: UK charity supporting diverse music-making practice and progression pathways for young people. Comparable mission of opening music-industry access to under-represented youth and providing mentoring/creative-development programmes.
- East London Dance: East London-based charity delivering free dance and creative-movement programmes to children and young people, including those from underrepresented backgrounds. Comparable target demographic, geography, and free programme model focused on a creative discipline.
- National Youth Theatre: UK-wide charity providing creative-arts training and performance pathways for 14-25 year-olds, including those from low-income backgrounds. Comparable mission of opening creative industries to underrepresented youth and producing professional outcomes.
- Create London: East London-based charity delivering free creative programmes and residencies for young people. Closely comparable geography, beneficiary group, and creative-discipline mix (music, fashion, multimedia).
- Eastside Community Heritage: East London charity delivering creative learning, heritage, and personal-development programmes for marginalised young people aged 5-25. Directly comparable target demographic, geography, and free programme model.
- Spitalfields Music: East London music charity running participatory music programmes for children and young people from diverse and low-income backgrounds. Comparable focus on music access for under-resourced youth in overlapping East London geographies.
- Elam (East London Arts & Music): Specialist 16-19 free sixth-form college in East London for creative arts and music, partnered with Sirlute. Comparable creative-discipline focus, East London geography, and fee-free model, though structured as a college rather than a charity.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sirlute social profiles
Digital presenceSirlute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sirlute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sirlute subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Sirlute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sirlute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sirlute
What does Sirlute do?
Sirlute provides free creative learning, mentoring, and training programmes for young people aged 5–25 from under-resourced backgrounds in London. Core offerings include structured workshops in music, fashion, game design, and multimedia, alongside personal, creative, and business mentoring, delivered at the organisation's East London facility and partner venues. Complementary services include a professional recording/production studio and a small merchandise line that supports fundraising.
Is Sirlute a public or private company?
Sirlute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sirlute founded?
Sirlute was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sirlute based?
Sirlute is headquartered in City Of London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sirlute make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grants and Foundation Funding, corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships and studio Services and Booking Fees.
Who are Sirlute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BRIT School and Youth Music. Direct peers are Roundhouse, Sound Connections, East London Dance, National Youth Theatre, Create London, Eastside Community Heritage, Spitalfields Music and Elam (East London Arts & Music).
Does Sirlute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sirlute.
What industry is Sirlute in?
Sirlute's product category is Youth Creative Education and Mentoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDANAKAI, Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects), with a secondary code of EDANAGAK, Peer-to-Peer & Student Mentor Tutoring Platforms. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.