THE OUSELEY CHURCH MUSIC TRUST
Grants, generally for of up to £5,000, are available to Choral Foundations, Choirs, Parish Churches, Cathedrals, Collages and Schools in England, Wales and Ireland for the maintenance, performance and promotion of choral services in England, Wales and Ireland.
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o Application deadline: SATURDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2026.
o Funder: The Ouseley Church Music Trust (founded 1989. Charity number 527519. Total charitable expenditure for the year ended value of all grants awarded to organisations during the year ended 31 December 2024: £121,980 (2023: £94,200; 2022: £80,890)).
o Who can apply: Choral Foundations, Choirs, Parish Churches, Cathedrals, Collages and Schools in England, Wales and Ireland (the Trust does not fund in Scotland).
o Key words: Choral Services, Education, Musicians, Courses, Choir School Fees, Purchase of Music, Community Outreach, England, Wales, Ireland.
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The charitable objectives of the Ouseley Church Music Trust are to:
o Promote and maintain to a high standard the choral services of the Church of England, the Church of Wales or the Church of Ireland, and to
o Promote the religious, musical and secular education of pupils attending any school in which instruction in the doctrines of any of the said churches (as detailed in the above spot point) is given and performance of their choral liturgy is observed.
During the year ended 31st December 2024, the Trust reviewed and republished its grants policy as part of a defining statement, which is to concentrate on making grants as follows:
o Grants towards the costs of musicians, scholarships, bursaries, and choral outreach/development schemes.
o Means-tested assistance towards the fees of individual choristers at cathedrals and choral foundations.
o The purchase of liturgical music (not hymn books or psalters).
o Courses for individuals and groups of church musicians.
o Where there is no specific choir school – grants towards chorister support costs, including theory, instrumental and vocal tuition, plus travel and subsistence associated with choristers at cathedrals and choral foundations, and
o Other projects (for example, outreach work in the community) of an innovative kind that are likely to further the Trust’s object in a direct and effective way. In exceptional circumstances, these may include music commissions. In every case, the project must have a direct bearing on advancing choral excellence in worship.
In the year up to 31st December 2024, the Trust received 169 requests for application forms (2023: 184), of which 51.47% (2023: 45.11%) were immediately rejected as they fell wholly outside the Trust’s objectives. As in previous years, the most frequent reason for rejection was because the request was for an inappropriate course of study either in the UK or abroad.
The trustees considered 62 applications (2023: 76) and 37 grants were authorised (2023: 44; 2022: 35) totalling £121,980 (2023: £94,200; 2022: £80,890).
Grants awarded were mostly for £5,000 or less.
Details of awards made during the year are provided on page 6 of the Trust’s annual accounts.
Funding is not available for:
o Capital or building projects.
o Making recordings.
o Projects which will be substantially completed by the application closing date.
o Purchase of furniture, clothing or liturgical objects.
o Purchase of organs, pianos or other instruments.
o Tours, or
o Visits.
Awards are made at biannual meetings of the Trustees. These normally take place on:
o 28th February, and
o 30th June.
The next application deadline is therefore on Saturday 28th February 2026.
Please note that previously funded applicants are normally unable to apply for 24 months from their grant award.
Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Trust’s website.
Contact details for the Trust are:
Neil Parsons
Clerk to the Trustees
The Ouseley Church Music Trust
PO Box 1505
Wroxham
Norwich
NR12 8TJ
Email: clerk@ouseleytrust.org.