The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers

Registered charity 1151161 · since 2013labbs.org.uk·England, Scotland, Wales·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

£8,182
Annual giving, year to 31 December 2025
From filed accounts
Invitation only
Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.

Key takeaways

  • Only LABBS member clubs can apply for Love to Sing grants, and only member clubs and registered quartets can apply for chorus and quartet grants, so groups outside the membership should not apply for those.
  • Education Events grants are open to members and non-members alike, with the application form sent to the LABBS Finance Director.
  • Its published details conflict on how to approach it: one says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while another describes an open application form, so confirm with the Finance Director before preparing a full bid.
  • Its annual giving totals £8,182 across all its activity, and that total may include grants to individuals, so a modest request is the realistic size to plan for; no typical grant band or range is stated.
  • Deadlines for member-only grants are in the Members area, and no deadline for Education Events grants is given, so ask when you enquire.

Overview

The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1151161).

The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers exists to further the education of the general public in all aspects of barbershop harmony and singing. It was founded by a small group of pioneering women with a passion for close harmony singing. It supports over 2200 individual members of 60 Barbershop Choruses and 54 registered Quartets. Its grants include support for choruses and quartets to further their own barbershop education, grants to choruses to run Love to Sing courses in their own communities, and grants and awards to members through its Voices in Harmony initiative, which is funded by a fund transfer from the general fund.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The foundation uses grants and education activity to develop and promote barbershop and harmony singing. It supports member clubs, choruses and quartets, as well as individual members and members of the public through education events. Chorus and quartet grants help groups further their barbershop education, while Love to Sing grants encourage member clubs to run courses intended to attract new members. Its education activity includes general and bespoke learning for choruses and quartets, regional education days and wider events. Education Event Grants are offered to both LABBS members and non-LABBS members, alongside member-focused support for the wider LABBS community.

Themes

  • Barbershop education
  • Chorus recruitment

How to apply

Organisations can apply for Education Events grants whether or not they are LABBS members: they complete an application form and submit it to the LABBS Finance Director.

Deadlines: Application dates for member-only grants are provided in the Members area.

Who can apply:

  • Chorus and quartet grants: Available to LABBS member clubs and LABBS registered quartets
  • Love to Sing grants: Available to LABBS member clubs
  • Education Events grants: Offered to both LABBS members and non-LABBS members

What to send:

  • Chorus and quartet grants, Love to Sing grants: A grant form and supporting evidence
  • Education Events grants: A grant application form

Application success factors

What the charity says:

  • Love to Sing grant applications are for chorus-run events intended to attract new members.

Where they fund

Registered area of operation (Charity Commission)

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers.

Grants

Not included above: 2 with no named recipient.

Five years of accounts

Financial yearIncomeExpenditureGrants paidAccounts document
year to 31 December 2021£77,454£37,926—Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022£228,269£242,991—Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023£302,895£312,953—Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024£277,174£241,179—Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025£285,114£263,803£8,182Accounts for year to 31 December 2025
  • Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.

Sources

Other sources

  • Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)

This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.

Sources last checked on 31 October 2026.

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