Halsway Young Folk Juniors 2026

Now in its ninth year, our popular Halsway Young Folk Juniors is a great introduction to folk music and song for ages 7 – 12. Led by an experienced creative team, this short residential will be filled with fun and imaginative folk activities, using local traditions and customs as inspiration. Children will explore music and song, and create and perform a show for family and friends.

“I’d never done anything like this before, I had lots of fun and I enjoyed making new friends. I liked the food too!” HYF Junior Participant

The course starts at 11am on Wednesday and finishes with a performance for family and friends on Friday afternoon.

Who is Young Folk Juniors for?

For young musicians aged 7 – 12. Any instrument will be welcomed, and we just ask that young people have either had some tuition, or experience of playing their instrument in a group. The main thing, though, is that you enjoy music, song and dance, and being creative!

Apply for a place by completing this form.

We don’t allow parents to stay on site – these residentials are for young people only. If you’re looking for a musical experience that you can enjoy together, check out our Family Folk course in the summer. Our pastoral lead, Kerrie, helps everyone to settle in and feel at home. We often find that, by the end of the residential, no one wants to leave!

The Team

Ford Collier (lead)

Ford Collier is a Radio 2 Folk Award Nominated multi-instrumentalist, specialising in folk fusion. He plays low whistle, guitar, and percussion, and draws on a wealth of traditional Irish tunes, his 8 years of experience as an accompanist, and knowledge of the rhythmic language of Indian classical music to broaden his roots in UK folk. Ford regularly tours the UK and has played festivals including Glastonbury with his two bands; global folk collective Mishra with Kate Griffin, and electrified-folk duo The Drystones with Alex Garden.

Some of Ford’s first teaching experience came from Halsway Manor, where he participated in courses as a teenager and eventually became a tutor. He has since delivered a series of workshops in primary schools on local folklore in collaboration with Historic England and Halsway Manor, begun work as a peripatetic teacher at schools in Sheffield and taught one-to-one lessons privately.

Ford has been a core tutor on Halsway Young Folk courses for many years, but before then, he was also a participant on Young Halsway courses when he was younger! 

Kerrie Seymour (Pastoral Support)

Kerrie is a community artist, youth theatre director and project manager with a background in Social Work, specialising in Youth, Education and Children’s Residential care.

Working extensively with schools, community groups and a range of support services Kerrie has delivered countless projects from small theatre performances to large scale outdoor events. She strives to be part of creating fresh, innovative, thought provoking and exciting work that can motivate, inspire, and engage participants and audiences. At Halsway she’ll be leading fun team-building and confidence-boosting games and creative activities to complement the musical tuition, whilst making sure each young person feels included and supported during their stay.