Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

Could Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £1,106 – £1,106
Where they fund: United Kingdom
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Rolling (no fixed deadline)

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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rsmgb.org

About Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, established in 1738, is the UK's oldest music charity, founded by musicians including Handel, Arne, and Boyce. Its mission is to provide financial security and wellbeing for professional musicians facing adversity from health crises or personal hardship. Operating with a needs-led philosophy, the charity prioritises direct, bespoke emergency relief delivered with compassion, dignity, and confidentiality. It is distinctly peer-led by musicians and offers discreet support to both members and non-members across the United Kingdom.

What Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain funds

The Society provides financial assistance to professional musicians and individuals professionally active in music who are experiencing physical ill health, mental health challenges, accidents preventing work, or old age-related needs. Support covers living expenses during income loss, specialist therapies such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, hand therapy, counselling and psychotherapy, home adaptations, and mobility aids. It also offers tailored financial guidance to help navigate crises. The charity reaches beneficiaries in all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Who can apply

Professional musicians and individuals professionally active in the world of music may apply, whether members of the Society or not. Applicants must be of British nationality or have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years. The charity prioritises those facing acute hardship at the intersection of health and livelihood, including performers, teachers, administrators, and technicians. The needs of dependants are also considered.

What Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain doesn't fund

The Society does not support applications arising from a lack of employment, or where the applicant has significant savings or equity in a second property that could be sold to alleviate circumstances. It also excludes requests for private medical insurance, pensions, private educational fees, loss of property or instruments that should be covered by insurance, costs that should be met by statutory benefits, and medication costs. Students who have not first consulted their conservatoire's student services are also not eligible.

How they like to fund

Grants are made available for a period of six months only, providing short-term emergency relief. The Society welcomes unsolicited applications directly from musicians in need, offering rapid, discreet support tailored to individual circumstances. Funding is needs-led and bespoke, focused on restoring livelihoods and preventing vulnerability from derailing careers.

How much does Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain give?

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£1,106 – £1,106

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 12 sourced facts

Financial AssistanceRolling applications

Two-stage process
Single-year grants

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

We aim to help all applicants who fit the criteria above via our grant-giving programme, whether Members or non-members, except for those who seek support because of a lack of employment.

Where they fund

United Kingdom

The full exclusions list (11)

want of employment
the Annual Income exceeds Annual Expenditure by a significant amount
the musician and partner have significant savings in excess of £20,000
the musician and/or partner having equity in a second property which may be sold to alleviate circumstances
a student at a Conservatoire has not consulted the Counsellor or Student Services of their institution and not yet been referred
the applicant requests assistance with private medical insurance and/or pension
the applicant requests assistance with private educational fees
the applicant requests assistance with the cost of loss of property and instruments which should be covered by insurance
the applicant requests assistance which should be available from the DSS but is disqualified from benefits due to insufficient NI payments having been made
the applicant requests assistance with medication costs
the applicant requests assistance with private ADHD and/or ASD assessment(s)

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Mental healthHealthPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain takes applications via email application.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain provide?

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain typically provides grants of £1,106 - £1,106.

Where does Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain fund charities?

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain funds charities operating in United Kingdom.

Does Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain accept unsolicited applications?

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain not fund?

Their published exclusions include: want of employment; the Annual Income exceeds Annual Expenditure by a significant amount; the musician and partner have significant savings in excess of £20,000; the musician and/or partner having equity in a second property which may be sold to alleviate circumstances; a student at a Conservatoire has not consulted the Counsellor or Student Services of their institution and not yet been referred. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain?

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain takes applications via email application. Published programme route: two-stage process.