Music for All is a UK charity that helps people overcome barriers to making music. Its awards programme provides musical instruments, equipment and financial grants to individuals, schools and community groups that want to develop musical opportunities but may lack the resources to do so.
The programme runs several application rounds throughout the year, with different awards available in each round. Funding is designed to help people who face financial, social or geographical barriers to music-making, including communities where access to instruments and musical activities is limited.
The current Round 4 of 2026 includes instrument awards for individuals, schools and community groups, as well as a financial grant for organisations providing music-making opportunities for children aged 0–4. Individual awards also include support for people who attended Music for All’s Learn to Play Weekend in October 2026.
The programme is particularly relevant to grassroots music projects, community organisations, schools and charities that want to make music more accessible. Rather than offering one general grant for any music-related activity, Music for All publishes specific award categories, each with its own eligibility requirements and available support
Requirements:
Eligibility depends on whether the application is being made by an individual or an organisation, and which award category is being applied for.
- Geography: Applicants must be based in the UK, and proposed community activities must take place in the UK.
- Organisation type: Schools and community groups must be not-for-profit and provide music-making opportunities within their communities.
- Individuals: People living in the UK can apply for individual awards, including applications submitted on someone else’s behalf.
- Demonstrating need: Applicants must explain the barriers preventing them or their participants from accessing music-making opportunities, and how the award would help remove those barriers.
- Deprivation and marginalisation: Several current award categories are aimed specifically at people, schools or groups in deprived or marginalised areas. Applicants should explain their local circumstances and the barriers their participants experience.
- Children and young people: The current community grant for early-years provision is for groups providing music-making opportunities to children aged 0–4.
- Independent witness: Applications require supporting evidence from an independent witness. Applicants should read the charity’s witness guidance carefully and ensure the statement is submitted by the separate deadline.
- Previous expenditure: Music for All does not fund retrospectively, so applicants should apply before purchasing the items or committing to the proposed expenditure.
There is no single organisation-income threshold stated on the main awards overview. Applicants should check the eligibility criteria for their chosen category before applying, as the programme’s requirements vary between awards.
Funding Priorities:
Music for All focuses on reducing barriers to music-making and helping people experience the educational, social and wellbeing benefits of playing music.
Its main priorities include:
- Access to musical instruments: Helping individuals and groups obtain instruments they may otherwise be unable to afford.
- Disadvantaged and marginalised communities: Supporting people who face financial, social or geographical barriers to taking part in music.
- Music education: Helping schools and community groups provide more opportunities for people to learn and develop musical skills.
- Early-years music: Supporting organisations that introduce music-making to children aged 0–4, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
- Inclusive community activities: Helping groups make music accessible to people who might otherwise miss out.
- Developing existing music provision: Providing instruments and software that help organisations expand or improve the activities they already deliver.
Applications should explain who will benefit, what barriers currently prevent participation and how the award will make a practical difference. Simply wanting additional instruments may not be enough without a clear explanation of need.
What They Will Fund:
The awards available in Round 4 of 2026 include the following.
For schools and community groups
- Electro-acoustic or electro-classical guitars: Up to five instruments per application. Amplifiers and cables are not included.
- Acoustic guitars: Up to 12 guitars per application. Cases are not included.
- Ukuleles: Up to 30 instruments per application.
- Pbuzz instruments: Up to 30 instruments per application.
- Arturia Analog Lab Pro software: Up to three software licences, for groups that can demonstrate how music technology would enhance their existing work.
- Early-years music grant: Up to £1,500 for eligible groups, projects and schools providing music-making opportunities for children aged 0–4.
For individuals
- One electro-acoustic or electro-classical guitar.
- One acoustic guitar.
- Learn to Play Award: A financial grant of up to £800 for eligible individuals who attended a session during Music for All’s Learn to Play Weekend 2026.
The programme provides instruments or software directly for the relevant categories rather than unrestricted cash grants. The early-years award and Learn to Play Award are the main cash-grant opportunities in the current round.
For community organisations, this could mean equipping a youth group with guitars, introducing ukuleles into community sessions, or purchasing instruments to help young children explore music. The strongest applications will connect the requested support to clear opportunities for people who currently face barriers to participation
What They Won’t Fund:
The awards are category-specific, so applicants should not assume that every music-related cost will be eligible.
The programme does not fund:
- Retrospective purchases: Instruments or costs that have already been purchased or incurred.
- Applications outside the UK: Both individual applicants and community projects must meet the UK eligibility requirements.
- Unrelated activities: Requests that do not fit one of the available award categories or demonstrate a clear link to music-making.
- General running costs through instrument awards: These awards provide specified instruments or software, not unrestricted funding for an organisation’s wider expenses.
- Unspecified equipment: Items outside the listed categories should not be assumed eligible.
- Learn to Play applications from non-attendees: The individual award is restricted to people who participated in the 2026 Learn to Play Weekend.
Applicants should also account for items that are explicitly excluded from particular awards. For example, guitar awards do not include amplifiers or cables, and acoustic guitars are supplied without cases.
How To Apply:
You can apply using the button below through their online application form.
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