Music For All

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £288,280 (2023/24)
• Annual Income: £210,973 (2023/24)
• Decision Time: Approximately 3 months
• Grant Range: £800 - £6,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
• Application Method: Fixed deadline rounds (multiple per year)

Contact Details

Website: www.musicforall.org.uk

Email: help@musicforall.org.uk

Phone: 01403 628892

Address: 7 Bell Yard Lower Ground Floor, London, WC2A 2JR

Grants Officer: Anna Thomas

General Manager: Sonali Banerjee

Overview

Music for All was established in 1996 and has established a reputation as a vital source of instruments and funds for disadvantaged music makers across the UK. The charity is dedicated to changing lives by improving access to music making, with a mission to enable and inspire everyone, regardless of circumstances, to discover the mental, social, and physical benefits of making music. In 2023/24, the charity had an annual expenditure of £288,280 and distributed 124 instruments while providing over £120,000 in cash grants. Over the past five years, Music for All has made over 500 awards, totaling more than £300,000 in cash grants and hundreds of donated instruments, directly benefiting over 7,900 music makers in 2022/23 alone. The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on donors, sponsors, and partners. Music for All emphasizes that their awards are hugely oversubscribed, receiving far more grant applications than they can fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Project Awards - £1,500 - £6,000 (fixed deadline rounds)

• Chronic Diseases Groups: Up to £1,500 for community groups working with those facing chronic disease and conditions affecting quality of life
• Financial Hardship Groups: Up to £1,500 for community groups supporting those facing financial hardship
• Youth Clubs: £1,000 - £6,000 comprising eight-track software, audio interface hardware, cloud subscription, studio kit (monitors, amps, microphones, stands, cables), instruments (guitar, bass guitar, e-drumkit), plus cash grant for mentoring/coaching
• Half-size Classical Guitars: Up to 30 guitars available per round
• Descant Recorder Packs: Up to 60 recorders available per round

Individual Awards - Up to £800 (fixed deadline rounds)

• Learn to Play Award: Up to £800 for individuals in deprived or marginalized areas with physical mobility, coordination, and/or accessibility needs
• Requires participation in Music for All's Learn to Play activities

Priority Areas

• Music-making projects in deprived or marginalized areas (referencing domains of deprivation for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)
• Removing barriers to music-making for disadvantaged individuals and communities
• Projects supporting health, wellbeing, and education through music
• Community groups and educational establishments working with:
• People with chronic diseases and conditions
• Communities facing financial hardship
• Youth aged 8-24 outside formal education settings
• Individuals with physical mobility, coordination, or accessibility needs
• All music genres and all capability levels

What They Don't Fund

• Retrospective projects (already completed)
• Laptop or PC provision
• Instrument cases (for youth club awards)
• Individuals in the UK solely for study purposes
• Projects outside the UK
• Organizations not working in deprived or marginalized areas

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Tony Followell - Chair of Trustees
• Graham Ellinor - Finance Director
• Ian Cullen - Trustee
• Ishani O'Connor - Trustee
• Lynn Ladbrook - Trustee
• Sarah Turnbull - Trustee (Senior Solicitor)
• Lisa Maria Eberhart - Trustee
• Rodger Morley - Trustee
• Simon Saunders OBE - Trustee
• Metin Epozdemir - Trustee
• Emma Jepson - Trustee

Office Team

• Sonali Banerjee - General Manager
• Anna Thomas - Grants Officer
• Wallis Leahy - Projects Coordinator
• Ross Morris - Charity Administrator
• Rachel Diamond - PR Consultant
• Vivienne Berg - Social Media Assistant

Governance Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

From the charity's leadership: “Sadly our awards are hugely oversubscribed – we receive far more grant applications than we can fund.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online via Submittable (musicforall.submittable.com). Music for All operates fixed deadline rounds throughout the year, with multiple funding rounds annually.

Application Requirements:

• Complete online application form via Submittable platform
• Nominate an independent witness/referee who must complete a separate form (5-minute form)
• Create a Submittable account to track application status
• Demonstrate eligibility based on deprivation criteria for your area
• Provide evidence of previous music project work where possible

Current Application Deadline: Applications typically close at 12 noon on specified Wednesdays, with witness statement forms due by 12 noon on the following Friday (e.g., application deadline Wednesday, witness forms Friday two days later).

Alternative Support: For applicants who don't meet Music for All's criteria, the charity recommends Help Musicians UK's “Funding Wizard” as an alternative resource.

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: Fixed dates announced for each round (12 noon on specified Wednesday)
• Witness Forms Due: Two days after application deadline (12 noon on Friday)
• Decision Notification: Approximately 3 months after application deadline
• Notification Method: Via email through Submittable platform

Success Rates

Music for All consistently receives more applications for support than they can fund, with the highest number of applicants in recent years. General guidance suggests that up to 60% of applications are rejected because they don't meet the eligibility criteria. The charity emphasizes that awards are “hugely oversubscribed.”

2022/23 Impact: Distributed over 220 instruments and awarded over £58,000 in cash grants to disadvantaged individuals and groups, directly benefiting over 7,900 music makers.

5-Year Track Record: Over 500 awards made, including over £300,000 in cash grants and hundreds of donated instruments.

Reapplication Policy

Successful Applicants: Those who have been successful are required to wait one year from their initial application before they can re-apply.

Unsuccessful Applicants: Receive no correspondence other than the advice provided in the Notice of an Unsuccessful Application. This notification will indicate whether a future application will be considered or not.

Application Success Factors

Based on Music for All's specific guidance, applications that stand out demonstrate the following:

1. Clear Evidence of Barriers and Solutions

Applications must “demonstrate how music is (or will be) used within the project work and where possible, illustrate previous examples as well as detail how the award will be used to remove barriers to music-making for participants.” Be specific about the barriers your community faces and exactly how funding will address them.

2. Strong Track Record

“Illustrate previous examples of their work” - applicants with demonstrated experience in music-making projects have stronger applications. Show your organization's history and capability.

3. Geographic Deprivation Evidence

Applications should “reference the domains of deprivation for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to show their community qualifies.” Use official deprivation data to support your case that you're working in a deprived or marginalized area.

4. Nurturing Underprivileged Talent

Successful applicants “demonstrate ways in which they nurture underprivileged young talent through their work.” Show how your project develops participants' musical abilities and life chances.

5. Music-Centered Approach

“Demonstrate how music is used in project work” - music must be central to your project, not peripheral. Explain the specific role music plays in achieving outcomes.

6. Detailed Funding Use

Applications should “detail how the award will be used” with specificity. Don't be vague - explain exactly what instruments, equipment, mentoring, or resources you'll purchase and why.

Examples of Funded Projects (from Music for All's own guidance):

• A local charity offering weekly music workshops for adults living with Parkinson's disease or dementia
• A hospital or hospice introducing music therapy sessions for patients recovering from long-term illnesses
• A youth club setting up a small recording studio and running workshops on music technology
• A mentoring scheme pairing local musicians with young people to create original tracks and learn production skills

Common Rejection Reasons:

• Up to 60% of applications don't meet eligibility criteria (particularly around deprivation/marginalization)
• Retrospective funding requests
• Insufficient evidence of barriers to music-making
• Lack of demonstrated track record

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target deprived areas specifically: Use official deprivation data for England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland to prove your community qualifies - this is critical for eligibility
• Awards are highly competitive: Music for All receives far more applications than they can fund, so applications must be exceptionally well-evidenced and compelling
• Focus on barrier removal: Frame your application around specific barriers to music-making and exactly how the grant will remove them - this is the language Music for All uses
• Show, don't tell: Include concrete examples of previous music work rather than general statements about your organization
• Independent referee matters: The witness/referee form is a required component - choose someone who can credibly speak to your work and give them sufficient time to complete their form before the Friday deadline
• One-year waiting period: If successful, you cannot reapply for one year, so make your initial request count
• Music must be central: Music should be the primary activity, not a supplementary element - demonstrate how it delivers health, wellbeing, or education outcomes
• Contact grants officer with questions: Email help@musicforall.org.uk before applying if you're unsure about eligibility or have award-related inquiries

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• THE ASDA FOUNDATION
• The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
• THE EVELYN TRUST
• The Britford Bridge Trust
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• Royal Philharmonic Society
• The Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• The Strangward Trust
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION
• THE JOHN APTHORP CHARITY
• PEGASUS
• Cambridge University Press

References

• Music for All official website: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/
• Community Project Funding page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/community-project-funding/
• Application Process page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/application-process/
• Individual Funding page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/apply-for-funding/individual-funding/
• How We Work page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/how-we-work/
• Trustees and Office Team page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/what-we-do/trustees-office-team/
• Our Impact Stories page: https://www.musicforall.org.uk/what-we-do/our-impact-stories/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1055371