MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund is fast gaining momentum – growing from £1,865 on the evening of Tuesday 24 March to almost £6000."> MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund is fast gaining momentum – growing from £1,865 on the evening of Tuesday 24 March to almost £6000."> MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund is fast gaining momentum – growing from £1,865 on the evening of Tuesday 24 March to almost £6000.">
skip to main content
Search

Crowdfunder for Coronavirus Hardship Fund More Than Triples in Under Two Days

Since opening, our Crowdfunder to raise more money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund is fast gaining momentum – growing from £1,865 on the evening of Tuesday 24 March to almost £6000.

Published: 26 March 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:30 PM
MU Coronavirus Hardship fund
Every donation will have an urgent impact on MU members who are facing genuine financial hardship.

The purpose of the fund is to provide immediate support for musicians in real financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus crisis, with small grants of £200 to provide urgent relief.

Within two hours of launching the fund, we had received more than two hundred applications – and that number has been growing ever since. With this pace in mind, we expect our £1M fund to run out by the end of the first week.

After numerous generous offers from members of the public who wished to contribute to keep the fund running, we launched a crowdfunder – which has taken off.

Whilst we continue to call on Government to put in proper measures to protect freelancers, every donation will have an urgent impact on MU members who are facing genuine financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Are you able to provide immediate support for musicians in real financial hardship? Join our crowdfunding effort.

Feedback from our members

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far we’ve received lovely messages from members, letting us know how their hardship grant has offered them some relief.

Here are just a few:

"I've just received an email saying my application was successful and I'll be receiving the money. Can I just say to everyone at the Musicians' Union, thank you. I could cry knowing that I've been given a bit of help. Thank you so much!" - anon 

“Massive thank you to @WeAreTheMU for providing me with £200 through the Coronavirus Hardship Fund. It’s not a lot, but it’s the most I’ve been granted as self-employed musician with no work" – Lucy on Twitter

 “Big thanks to @WeAreTheMU for enabling me to pay rent this month if you're in a bind and your dues are paid up, it's worth a look." - Wilsoni via Twitter

“Me too!! Thank you for helping us @WeAreTheMU it’s good to see how much musicians have supported each other over the last week. Makes me part of a much bigger family.” – Kate via Twitter

If you’re facing urgent financial hardship

We’ve listed more sources of financial assistance, as well as guidance on Government benefits on our Financial Support page.

This includes our own hardship fund, as well as the new funds launched by Help Musicians and PRS for Music.

See all news

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

Close up of a large, red, closed theatre safety curtain, lit up by stage lights.

Right to Work Changes and Deputies: MU Seeking Urgent Legal Clarification

Concerns have been raised about how new Right to Work requirements could affect musicians who arrange deputies or substitutes to perform on their behalf. The MU is urgently investigating the implications and will provide further guidance as soon as possible.

Published: 18 September 2026

Read more about Right to Work Changes and Deputies: MU Seeking Urgent Legal Clarification
A birds eye view of an online music lesson. A person sits at a keyboard in front of a phone on a stand, and an open laptop.

Dr Anna Bull: Putting Young People’s Voices at the Heart of Music Education

Originally written for Music Teacher magazine, Dr Anna Bull explores why safeguarding is about more than policies and procedures, and how empowering young people to find their voice can help create safer music education, as set out in the MU’s Experiences of Harm and Risk in Music Education Guide.

Published: 17 September 2026

Read more about Dr Anna Bull: Putting Young People’s Voices at the Heart of Music Education
Shot from behind of someone in a cap sat working at a mixing desk in a recording studio.

Have Your say in UK Music’s 2026 Workforce Diversity Survey

UK Music is inviting people working across the music industry to take part in its Workforce Diversity Survey, which aims to identify where further improvements are needed and highlight where positive change is already taking place.

Published: 17 September 2026

Read more about Have Your say in UK Music’s 2026 Workforce Diversity Survey
Close up of someone composing. They are holding an acoustic guitar while sat in front of a computer screen and keyboard, whilst also writing notes on a tablet.

MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers

New commissioning guidelines developed by the MU, BBC, BBC Studios Music Publishing and The Ivors Academy will help media composers better understand the BBC's commissioning process, with clearer guidance on contracts, rights, pitching and the use of AI.

Published: 17 September 2026

Read more about MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers
All news and features