The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund

Charity Number: 1193337

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Italy, Spain, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £288,000 (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies - from one-off grants to regular monthly allowances; organizational grants range from £2,000 to £49,650
  • Geographic Focus: UK (primarily supporting ROH, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and wider opera/ballet/music sector)

Contact Details

Address: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Phone: 07485105797

Email: ben.fund@roh.org.uk

Website: www.roh.org.uk

Overview

The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund was originally established on 8 June 1961 (charity number 200002) and was re-registered on 1 February 2021 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1193337). The Fund is an independent charity not funded or managed by the Royal Opera House, but governed by nine Trustees with relevant specialist knowledge and an interest in the Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet. For the year ending 31 March 2024, the Fund distributed £288,000 in grants (compared to £533,000 in 2022/23), with total income of £155,370. The Fund supports past and present employees of the Royal Opera House, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and their partner contractors, as well as making grants to other charitable organizations working to support artists and performers in opera, ballet, and music.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Support Grants - Various amounts (rolling basis)

  • Monthly retirement allowances (£86,000 distributed to 12 long-term beneficiaries in 2023/24)
  • Short-term grants for immediate needs (£54,000 to 33 beneficiaries in 2023/24)
  • Interest-free loans for unexpected expenses
  • One-off support for essential items (e.g., household appliances)
  • Short-term assistance during injury or illness

Organisational Grants - £2,000 - £49,650 (rolling basis)

Recent organizational grants included:

  • £49,650 to Dancers' Career Development for Evolve Workshops and career coaching
  • £25,000 to Royal Ballet School for Healthy Dancer Programme
  • £6,500 to Ex-Cathedra for educational purposes
  • £3,750 to Sloane Square Choral Society
  • £2,000 per annum to Chelsea Chamber Choir (3-year commitment) for engaging young soloists

Priority Areas

Individual Support:

  • Prevention or relief of poverty among performing arts professionals
  • Support during periods of financial hardship, illness, or injury
  • Assistance for those with inadequate or non-existent occupational pensions
  • Short-term emergency support

Organisational Support:

  • Advancing education and health of artists in opera, ballet, and music
  • Career development programs for dancers and performers
  • Healthy performer initiatives
  • Educational programs engaging young musicians and soloists

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the Fund's scope is limited to:

  • Individuals and organizations connected to opera, ballet, and music performance
  • Those with a connection to the Royal Opera House, Birmingham Royal Ballet, or the wider performing arts sector
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Governance and Leadership

The Fund is governed by nine Trustees with specialist knowledge and interest in the Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Known trustees include:

  • Greg Jauncey - Trustee
  • Tessa King-Farlow - Appointed 2021
  • Andrew Charles Kaufman - Appointed 2021, Solicitor
  • Alexander Charles Beard - Appointed 2021, Chief Executive

The Fund is administered by two part-time staff: a Secretary and a Welfare and Administration Officer. The Fund works closely with the Royal Opera House Occupational Health Advisor and maintains strict confidentiality in all its dealings.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individuals:

Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. To apply:

  1. Complete the application form (available by contacting the Fund)
  2. Include a financial statement of income and expenditure
  3. Submit via email to ben.fund@roh.org.uk

For Organisations:

Registered charities and organizations may apply if a grant would support the prevention or relief of poverty, or advance the education or health of artists employed in opera, ballet, or music. The same application process applies.

Key Points:

  • All applications are dealt with in the strictest confidence
  • The Fund welcomes confidential approaches from friends or colleagues on behalf of potential applicants
  • There is no requirement to have contributed to the Fund to receive help
  • Applications are measured against guidelines agreed by the Trustees

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Fund operates with rolling applications and decisions are made by the Trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2023/24, the Fund supported 12 long-term beneficiaries with regular allowances and provided short-term grants to 33 individuals, in addition to making grants to several charitable organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated, but the Fund's rolling application process and provision of both short-term and long-term support suggests reapplication is possible. Contact the Fund directly for specific guidance.

Application Success Factors

The Fund uses evidence-based approaches to determine appropriate support levels:

Means-Tested Assessment: The Fund uses the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) methodology developed by Loughborough University's Centre for Research in Social Policy to calculate grant amounts. This ensures grants reflect the “current economic climate and cost of living” and are tailored to individual circumstances, with flexibility for childcare costs, rent, and council tax.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Clear connection to the Royal Opera House, Birmingham Royal Ballet, or the wider opera/ballet/music sector
  • Demonstrable financial need for individual applicants
  • For organizational applications, clear alignment with advancing education/health or preventing poverty among performing arts professionals

Financial Documentation: Applications require a financial statement of income and expenditure, suggesting thorough financial assessment is important.

Confidential Approach: The Fund's emphasis on confidentiality and willingness to accept third-party referrals suggests they understand the sensitive nature of financial hardship and value discretion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Sector-Specific Focus: The Fund exclusively supports those connected to opera, ballet, and music performance - demonstrate clear connection to this sector
  • Evidence-Based Approach: The Fund uses MIS methodology for individual grants, suggesting they value data-driven, objective assessment of need
  • Flexibility in Grant Types: From one-off emergency support to multi-year organizational commitments, the Fund offers diverse support mechanisms
  • Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines - apply when support is needed
  • Confidentiality Valued: Third-party referrals are welcomed, recognizing the sensitive nature of financial need
  • Organizational Grants Available: Beyond individual support, the Fund makes substantial grants (up to £49,650) to organizations advancing education and health in the performing arts
  • Long-Term Relationships: Multi-year commitments (like the 3-year Chelsea Chamber Choir grant) suggest the Fund values sustained partnerships with effective organizations

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