Financial Support

Parental grant

Grants of £275 are available to all new parents who are MU members. Check if you are eligible for the grant before applying.

The parental grant for musicians is available:

• To current members who are not in arrears of their membership fee at the time of application and becoming a parent. If both parents are members, only one parental grant is payable per child.
• After the second consecutive year of membership and must be applied for within six months of becoming a parent, or during pregnancy and on production of the Maternity Certificate (note that both pages of the MAT B1 form need to be presented).
• On a per-child basis. Therefore, if more than one child is born or adopted, a grant is paid per child.

You'll need to provide the required supporting documents to apply. Learn more by starting your application.

Apply for a Parental grant

Funeral grant

A funeral grant of £275 is payable in respect of MU members whose death occurs during their membership. To apply, please get in touch and we'll talk you through the next steps.

MU Benevolent Fund

At the MU, one of the objectives is to provide benevolent assistance to members or their dependants in financial hardship, whether due to illness or another cause.

The Benevolent Fund is a modest and limited resource, maintained solely by voluntary donations. We offer small grants for members in need of financial support as a result of sickness, an accident or as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

To apply for a musicians' hardship grant, please contact your Regional Office and they will talk you through the next steps To apply, please get in contact with your Regional Office who will talk you through the next steps.

A sub-committee of the Regional Committee will consider your application as soon as possible after it’s received.

Grants for musicians: our partner organisations

Help Musicians

Since 1921, Help Musicians has helped thousands of musicians establish themselves in the music business, get through a serious crisis, cope with long term difficulties, and enjoy retirement. As well as providing advice and guidance, it gives financial and emotional support.

In addition to providing advice and guidance, Help Musicians also gives financial and emotional support. The charity prioritises career development and individual progression, providing grants for young musicians and others to record.

It plays a vital role in supporting working musicians who are dealing with an illness, injury or the aftermath of an accident. It’s a lifeline for many, so if you need help or know someone who does, don't hesitate to reach out.

Royal Society of Musicians

The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain was founded to support musicians and their families when in distress due to ‘age, infirmity or disease’. They still provide advice, support and grants for musicians in 2022.

For more information, call 020 7629 6137.

PRS Members' Fund

The PRS Members' Fund exists to help its members, ex-members and dependants of members who have passed away. The type of help offered includes short-term loans to cover unexpected financial crises and one-off emergency grants for musicians in cases of hardship or illness.

Medical assistance for musicians

British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) is a unique charity delivering specialist health support to musicians via free and confidential GP assessment clinics, plus referrals to the best treatment available.

BAPAM now has clinics in:

• Belfast

• Birmingham

• Cardiff

• Glasgow

• Leeds

• Liverpool

• London

• Newcastle Gateshead

For more information, a list of complementary and mainstream practitioners, and guidance on staying fit and healthy, please visit bapam.org.uk