Financial Support

There are a number of ways the cost of lessons and musical activities can be supported:

Pupil Premium

If you qualify for Pupil Premium your child’s school may be able to use this money to support their music making. It’s best to contact your child’s school to find out if this is possible. Alternatively, please email lancs.music@lancashire.gov.uk

Remittance for families on low incomes

You qualify for a free group lesson at a Music Centre and ensemble membership if you meet the criteria listed below:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

For more information please visit the direct.gov.uk website

PROOF OF EXEMPTION WILL BE REQUIRED

Support from our charity

Our linked Charity, Friends of Lancashire County Ensembles (FLCE), will be offering bursaries to provide some financial support to young people in Lancashire who show an interest in or talent for music, in situations where their parent or carer’s financial circumstances might not be able to meet the full cost of the activity.  The fund can provide a contribution towards these costs.

The application is made by a parents or carer filling in an online form and you will need a teacher or music leader to fill in another form in support of your application. Applications are anonymised and assessed by a panel of FLCE Trustees once per term.

For further information, details of the next deadline and how to apply please email rachel.hughes@lancashire.gov.uk 

Other Organisations offering support

Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) is a UK charity who believe that all musically talented young people should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever their background. They carefully target their resources to give talented children from lower income families the best possible chance to flourish and grow as musicians. Visit the Awards for Musicians website.

Future Talent is a charity that gives financial support and guidance to young musicians aged between 5 and 18 who are clearly demonstrating outstanding musical ability or potential, but for whatever reason do not have the financial means to reach their goal. They support musicians from all musical genres and awards are given for a variety of purposes including the purchase of instruments, music lessons, fees for specialist training courses and membership to national training ensembles. Visit the Future Talent website.

https://www.disability-grants.org/grants-for-music.html links and information to organisations that help to fund access to music education for pupils with disabilities.

https://www.hattorifoundation.org.uk/junior-awards.html Instrumental soloists between the ages of 15 and 20 who are resident in the UK and have demonstrated both exceptional talent and achievement may apply at any time of the year for financial assistance towards travelling expenses to attend national or international competitions, masterclasses within the UK or abroad and specific assistance in the case of hardship.

https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/application-process/ Individual “learn to play awards” https://www.christinebrowntrust.org.uk  The Christine Brown Trust for Young Musicians offers financial support to exceptionally talented young musicians under 19 years of age, who are UK residents and who are experiencing financial hardship.

https://www.drakecallejatrust.org/application-information Our Senior Scholarships are for musicians over the age of 18, with no upper age limit. Each academic year scholarships are awarded ranging from £1,500 to £5,000 per scholar, depending on individual circumstances. Scholarships can be used to cover fees, instrument purchase, masterclasses, competitions, recordings, concerts and other related activities

https://nationalyouthartstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/bursaries/music-bursaries/ A Means tested bursary of up to £1,000 if you have been learning to play an instrument or sing, and want to continue.Bursaries will fund lessons, both instrumental and singing, taught by teachers who enter pupils for the ABRSM exams. You can also apply to cover the costs of musical instrument hire, music ensemble membership and travel expenses.

https://www.munstertrust.org.uk/funding/funding-guide/junior-funding/ General Funding advice with helpful links. https://benslowmusic-ils.org/ Offering talented young UK musicians, affordable access to high quality instruments.

For information on funding opportunities to help with the costs associated with undergraduate and postgraduate study please see: https://www.ism.org/advice/funding-for-students/