Grants for Music

The Amber Trust

The Amber Trust funds music awards to visually impaired children aged up to 18 years.

The Awards will pay for music lessons, music therapy, musical instruments, specialist music software, concert tickets and travel to musical events.

Parents and carers are able to make direct applications by downloading an application form.

Award applications are considered three times a year in March, July and December. 

www.ambertrust.org

Awards for Young Musicians

The Awards for Young Musicians supports young people aged 5 to 17 years.

It provides awards between £100 and £2,000 to help pay for lessons, buying or hiring an instrument, travel and specialist music courses.

Applicants must show evidence of financial need, have received or hope to achieve a distinction in a music exam and be recommended by their music teacher.

To apply: Read the guidance and complete the application form.

www.a-y-m.org.uk

Christine Brown Trust

The Christine Brown Trust offers financial support to young musicians (under 19 years) who may be finding it difficult to meet the cost of learning a musical instrument.

It is able to help talented young musicians who live in the UK and are in financial hardship.  Funding may be provided towards the cost of lessons, a new instrument, a summer school or orchestra fees.

To apply: complete the online application form.  Priority is given to applicants from the Yorkshire region.

www.christinebrowntrust.org.uk

Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Awards

The Fund supports blind or partially sighted musicians for musical study, projects and events.

It funds bids up to £2000 for individuals and up to £5000 for third party applications.  Priority is given to classical musicians especially organists.

Applicants must be a UK citizen and be registered as visually impaired.

Application forms and further information can be obtained from the RNIB's Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Completed application forms must be emailed to mas@rnib.org.uk by 31st March of each year.

www.rnib.org.uk

Help Musicians UK

Help Musicians UK supports musicians who sing, play or create all types of music.  This also extends to those who work in related occupations.

They support:

• Young musicians at the start of their career
• Musicians facing a crisis such as ill health or accident during their working lives
• Musicians suffering from debilitating illness
• Retired musicians

Depending on the type of support required the Fund can offer financial support, advice and a visiting service.

To qualify for help they will need to see evidence of financial situation as they will only help those with savings under £16,000 (£20,000 for retired musicians)

www.helpmusicians.org.uk

Jessie's Fund

Jessie's Fund helps seriously ill and disabled children in the UK by using music for communication and therapy.

The fund mainly works with children's hospices by providing them with a wide range of musical instruments to give the children access to creative music-making and music therapy.

It also works with schools for children with special needs, hospitals, and other centres for children with special needs.

Jessie's Fund is able to support the funding of a music therapist for three years and the purchase musical instruments.

Individual children are also able to apply for funding towards music therapy sessions. By registering on the site you will be able to access free resources for making music with children.

To apply for the different projects download the relevant application form.

www.jessiesfund.org.uk

Music for All

Music for All believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn to play music.

It is able to provide grants to support music making projects that offer experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The charity donates musical instruments and music tuition to both the young and  the old.

It also makes grants to community music groups and educational organisations.

To apply: complete the online form.  You must indicate whether you are applying as an individual or group.

There are three funding deadlines throughout the year:

1st February, 1st July and 1st November in any year.

www.musicforall.org.uk

Take it Away

"Take it Away" is The Art Council's scheme for individuals for loans up to £5,000 towards a musical instrument.

The loans can be used towards a wide range of instruments.  To find out the cost of monthly payments use the online form.

It is open to anyone over 18 years buying an instrument for an individual under 18 years or an individual aged 18 to 25 years buying an instrument for themselves.

All applicants must be working over 16 hours a week, be a UK resident and hold a bank account.

To apply: visit a participating store or apply via mail order.

www.takeitaway.org.uk

The Wrightson Trust

The Wrightson Trust provides funding to help young musicians (secondary age group up to 18 years) in financial need.

The grants may be used for the payment of instrumental lessons, assistance with choir/orchestra tour fees etc.

Grants may be one-off grants or reviewable annually (up to a maximum of three grants).  Currently grants have ranged from £100 to £800.

To apply: complete the downloadable application form.  Financial details on income, outgoing and assets are required.

Two letters of support are also required as evidence of musical ability and potential.

www.wightsontrust.co.uk

See also:

Look at the following on the Grants for Disability Arts page.....

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation

The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust

And....

Caudwell Children (music therapy)

Kynan Eldridge Fund (Nottingham)