The MU is proud to work with PRS Members’ Fund to ensure that support services can be accessed by musicians in need. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The MU is grateful to PRS Members’ Fund for offering a wide range of valuable support services for eligible PRS members (see below for eligibility criteria), including financial support, mental health and wellbeing support, and more.
Many MU members may also be eligible PRS members. This article offers a summary of what is available.
Winter relief
Increasing electricity and gas prices can have a significant impact on household income for musicians.
If you are an eligible PRS member, help is at hand through PRS Members’ Fund’s Winter Relief Scheme, which runs until 31 March 2026.
General financial support
If you are experiencing other financial difficulties such as rent arrears, you can apply to PRS Members’ Fund under general applications.
PRS Members’ Fund handles all applications in the strictest confidence.
Mental health support
BAPAM ((the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine) offers free mental health consultations, but when additional funding is required, for example when sustained counselling or therapy is needed, PRS Members’ Fund can help eligible PRS members cover the cost of this.
Contact BAPAM at info@bapam.org or call 020 8167 4775 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Wellbeing support
INTUNE is a free personalised digital health and wellbeing platform created by PRS Members’ Fund in partnership with BAPAM.
After answering a series of simple questions, you will receive tailored responses with a list of practical resources addressing your concerns. Resources cover vocal health, hearing and sleep to relationships, personal finances and more.
Future plans
PRS Members’ Fund has plans for new projects later this year, including wellbeing breaks and a summer scheme. To keep updated, sign up for the Fund’s newsletter.
Chris Walters, MU National Organiser for Education and Health & Wellbeing, said:
“The MU is proud to work with PRS Members’ Fund to ensure that support services can be accessed by musicians in need. We look forward to continuing this important work with PRS Members’ Fund.”
Eligibility criteria
To qualify as an eligible PRS member for the Winter Relief and general support schemes, you must:
- Be a UK resident
- Have joined PRS for Music before 1 October 2018 or earned at least £500 in PRS royalties
- Have less than £16,000 in savings.
Points to note:
- PRS Members’ Fund can only accept one application per household for the Winter Relief scheme
- If you have applied for any support within the past three months, this may be taken into account when considering your application for the Winter Relief Scheme
- Two months’ bank statements must be submitted with your application
- Any relevant medical documents must be submitted if your application involves health concerns.