How can I get help with costs? Expand We want all children and young people to have access to enjoyable music and arts activity. If you are unable to meet the full costs of our services, there may be help available. This page contains lots of information about schemes that we operate in Severn Arts, as well as those run by external organisations. If you know of any other schemes that could reduce costs for young people, please let us know so we can add them to our list. Contact us if you would like to talk to us about help with costs.
Online summer music lessons Expand Do you need help with costs for our summer online music lessons? Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Severn Arts will be offering a block of four online music lessons over the summer of 2020. Lessons will start from the week beginning 20 July 2020. We want this opportunity to be available to as many young people aged 7 - 18 as our teachers can support - both existing and new pupils. Yet, we know that, due to financial circumstances, some families may struggle to meet the costs of tuition. We have been raising funds to reduce the cost of music lessons for such situations and we’d like to start using them this summer. We have up to 25 FREE places to offer for online lessons this summer. Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis. If you are applying for the online taster lessons instrument hire will also be free and delivery can be arranged. What would qualify my child for FREE online lessons this Summer? The 25 free places will be available to children and young people from families who meet one or more of the following criteria: Children and young people eligible for Free School Meals (year 3 or above) Universal Credit which has replaced the following benefits: Child Tax Credit Housing Benefit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Working Tax Credit Incapacity Benefit Looked After Children Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) Please note you will be asked to upload a photo or scan of one supporting document with your application. Severn Arts wish to support as many children and young people as possible. If you feel you need support but do not qualify according to the criteria above, please complete the relevant box on your application form. How do I apply for a free place? If you are already learning an instrument please complete our Online summer music lessons application form. If you are new to musical learning please complete our Online summer music lessons four week taster application form. The deadline for applications is Monday 6 July 2020 and decisions will be made by Friday 10 July 2020.
Free instrument hire and group/ensemble membership Expand Severn Arts offers free instrument hire and group/ensemble membership to pupils eligible for free school meals and/or pupil premium. Applications to this scheme are for a single academic year – September to 31 August. For continued remission, a new application must be made in advance of each new academic year. We will contact you with updated application information when your current remission expires. How to apply: Apply for instrument hire and/or group/ensemble membership in the usual way (links below) At payment, choose the ‘Remission’ option where you will be able to download the Remission Application Form Please complete and submit this form (which also needs to be signed by the headteacher) and provide confirmation of your receipt of free school meals and/or pupil premium e.g. written confirmation from your school When your form is received by the Severn Arts office we will confirm this with you and process your instrument hire/membership application Please note that if you are applying for both instrument hire and group/ensemble membership, you only need to submit one Remission Application Form. Apply for instrument hire Apply for music centre group membership Apply for intermediate ensemble membership Apply to audition for youth ensemble membership
Severn Arts bursary Expand We will soon be launching our bursary scheme for eligible young people to receive music lessons at a reduced fee, along with free instrument hire and group and ensemble membership. Details of the scheme will be available soon. Interested in donating to our bursary? Donate today!
Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust Expand The Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust provides funds for tuition for instruments played with a bow; help towards the purchase of an instrument; some living expenses incurred whilst in full time or postgraduate education/studies at college/university – supporting students up to about 30 years of age. The Albert Cooper Music Charitable Trust
The Wrightson Trust Expand The Wrightson Trust generally aims to benefit young people between 10 and 18 years. this includes support for lessons, choir/orchestra tour fees, music colleges etc. The assistance varies according to circumstances and distributions have ranged between £100 and £800. Grants are either ‘one offs’ or reviewable annual payments for a specific period. Two letters of support are required from the candidate’s tutors or teachers. The Wrightson Trust
Music for All Expand Music for All provide advice and grant funding support to individuals to provide access to musical instruments and lessons. Music for All
Lawrence Atwell’s Charity Expand Lawrence Atwell's Charity provides grants to young people to assist them with vocational training and education. Helping young people 16 to 26, to learn new skills and make their way into employment. They support individuals studying on vocational and accredited courses but not individuals still in secondary education, studying GCSEs or A levels, or undertaking a course at a private dance/drama college, or an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Parental income must be below £26,000 per annum. Lawrence Atwell's Charity
Future Talent Expand Future Talent offers financial bursaries to young musicians, instrumentalists and singers from any genre of music. Future Talent supports gifted young musicians from low income backgrounds from anywhere in the UK, typically families who have a household income of around £30,000 per year, or less, before tax (including benefits). Any young musicians on free school dinners would be eligible for one of these bursaries. Bursaries of up to £2,000 per year can be used on anything that will help to nurture a young musicians’ talent. For example, funds can be used for lessons, a new instrument or case, courses or maintenance. There is no specific grade requirement or level that needs to be reached. Some examples, given by the trust include: A 16/17 year old, grade 7/8 musician who is planning to study music in heighted education and needs their own instrument or extra lessons A 13 year old who has been learning for a few years and is progressing really quickly, who would really benefit from taking part in an ensemble/orchestral course, or who needs some more support with costs A year 5 or 6 continuer, who has gone through wider opportunities, and has managed to reach grade 2/3 by the end of primary school, but whose parents cannot afford to carry on with lessons The Mentoring, Advice and Bursary Programme also offers free orchestral days and performance classes, mentoring with a professional musician/conductor and development opportunities. Future Talent
Fidelio Charitable Trust Expand Fidelio Charitable Trust welcomes applications for grants in support of the arts particularly for music, including Opera, Lieder, Composition and Dance. Fidelio looks to provide support for individuals or groups of exceptional ability. Fidelio Charitable Trust
EMI Music Sound Foundation Expand EMI Music Sound Foundation is an independent music education charity, established in 1997 to celebrate the centenary of EMI Records and to improve young peoples’ access to music education in the UK & Ireland. The Foundation provides two types of awards: Instrument and/or equipment awards which allow schools, music teachers and individuals in full time education for assistance with the purchase of musical instruments and/or equipment Bursary awards which allow students at the colleges or organisations (as listed on their website) to apply for assistance with fees and/or living expenses (these are handled directly by the college or organisation). UM UK Sound Foundation
The Bishop Lloyd Charity Expand The Bishop Lloyd Charity offers grants to children and young people in hardship who meet the following criteria: Under 25 years Resident of the city of Worcester Wanting to pursue their education, e.g. extra curricular courses or in need of grants to help with equipment - this includes music and arts participation The full criteria and application forms are on the website www.worcestercathedral.co.uk