Mansfield music tutor Jimmy Power won a top honour at this year’s Youth Music Awards in London.

The Inspirational Music Leader Award marked his work with the Inspire Youth Arts (IYA) team based in the town.

IYA offers opportunities for young people to take part in arts projects and programmes in dance, music and digital.

The national awards celebrate the most forward-thinking projects and people making, learning and earning in music.  

Jimmy’s work with IYA on various Youth Music-funded projects includes the SUMP Urban Music Production project, where he works with disabled young people from across the county to produce, record and release their own urban music, and across all the BeiNG Music projects.

 “It was great to be nominated in the first place, so when I won it was a huge surprise,” said Jimmy.

“It feels good that the work we have been doing is being recognised on a national level.”

 Peter Gaw, chief executive of Inspire, added, “We are really pleased for Jimmy and the recognition of his work and that of Inspire Youth Arts in working with Nottinghamshire young people to develop skills and experiences to take part fully in the opportunities music and culture offer.

“Our commitment to reducing barriers to participation in learning and culture for disabled young people is strong across Inspire, and very much led by the Inspire youth arts team for which this award is great recognition”.

Based at The Old Library, the IYA team offers a chance for young people to join arts projects and programmes in dance, music and digital. Alongside a 100-seat theatre space, the arts venue has a professional recording studio, exhibition area, café-bar, Mac suite and meeting, teaching, rehearsal and workshop spaces.