MUSIC FOR ALL COMMUNITY PROJECT GRANTS (ROUND 5, 2025/26)
Small grants and awards are available to not-for-profit organisations, including schools, for projects that bring music into communities across the United Kingdom. The level of grant funding varies according to each funding priority. The largest grant available in this round is £6,000 for youth clubs or comparable organisations.
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o Application deadline: WEDNESDAY 14th JANUARY 2026 at midday (12 noon).
o Funder: Music for All (founded 1996. Charity number 1055371. Total charitable expenditure for the year ended 31st March 2024: £288,280 (2023: £191,534 (2022: £173,245)).
o Who can apply: not-for-profit organisations, including schools, across the UK. Individuals may also apply for Learn to Play award (details below).
o Key words: Disadvantage/
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The charity Music for All is dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making, enabling disadvantaged music makers experience the joys and far-reaching benefits of making music.
Music for All offers small grants and awards for not-for-profit organisations and schools in the UK for projects that require financial support to develop sustainable music programmes. Individuals may also apply for an award.
Music for All usually has a limited grants project, so eligible organisations that are unable to secure other financial contributions to their project are likely to be prioritised. Projects that serve marginalised and disadvantaged communities will also be prioritised (please refer to the domains of deprivation for England, Wales, Scotland
Music for All usually changes its funding priorities for each grant round. In the current round of funding, it is seeking to support community projects that focus on the following areas:
1. Groups working with those facing chronic diseases and conditions affecting quality of life – grants of up to £1,500 are available to community groups in deprived or marginalised areas developing music education for those living in the area (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure). These groups must provide music making opportunities to those with chronic diseases and conditions affecting their quality of life. Applicants for this award will need to demonstrate how music is used within their project work and where possible, be able to illustrate previous examples of their work as well as outline how funds will be used to remove barriers to support music-making for participants.
2. Groups working with those facing financial hardship – grants of up to £1,500 are available to community groups in deprived or marginalised areas developing music education for those living in the area (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure). These groups must be providing music making opportunities to those facing financial hardship. Applicants for this award will need to demonstrate how music is used within their project work and where possible, be able to illustrate previous examples of their work as well as detail how funding will be used to remove barriers to support music-making for the group.
3. Youth clubs (and comparable organisations) – this award comprises grants of between £1,000 and £6,000 for mentoring/coaching as well as eight-track software, audio interface hardware, cloud subscription, studio kit, instruments with cases and amps. Awards are available to youth clubs and comparable organisations in deprived or marginalised areas (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure). These organisations must be developing music provision for local young people by providing music making opportunities outside of their school/higher education setting. Applicants for this award will need to demonstrate how music is (or will be) used within their youth club or comparable organisation’s project work and, where possible, be able to illustrate previous examples as well as detail how they will use this award to remove barriers to music-making for participants. Please note that laptops and PCs cannot be funded.
4. Pure tone classical guitar 1/2 size C45A Natural – this award is open to applications from groups/schools using entry level half-size acoustic guitars support communities in deprived or marginalised areas and developing music education for those living in the area (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure). Please note that no cases available for the guitars. Applicants can apply for up to 30 half-size classical guitars.
5. Descant recorders – this award is open to applications from groups/schools using entry-level descant recorders to support communities in deprived or marginalised areas (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure). Suitable for beginners only and includes ‘Walking in the Air’ sheet music. Note, no cases available. Applicants can apply for up to 60 recorders.
6. Learn to Play award (for individuals) – this award is open to individuals in deprived or marginalised areas (this includes but is not limited to social infrastructure; please see the domains of deprivation for England, Wales, Scotland
The main aspects that the trustees look for in each application are:
1. The number of new musicians the project will create and support.
2. The sustainability of the project (to ensure that people are able to continue their musical journeys), and
3. Whether there are any other organisations supporting the project that can help with funding, or if funding applications have been made to other charities. (Music for All likes to help as many applicants as it can, so often works with other organisations to enable projects to gain the full support required.)
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Music for All website.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 14th January 2026 at 12 noon (midday).
Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria for Music or All funding or find the grants on offer in this round unsuitable for their needs, can use the Funding Wizard resource on the Help Musicians website to find other funding opportunities.
Contact details for Music for All are:
Music For All Community Project Grants
Music For All
7 Bell Yard
Lower Ground Floor
London
WC2A 2JR
Email: awards@musicforall.org.