£5m coronavirus fund for musicians runs dry after a week

A £5 million hardship fund set up to help UK musicians struggling financially due to the coronavirus outbreak has run dry in a matter of days.

The initiative, launched by the Help Musicians charity on March 25, has so far received 10,000 applications.

It is currently delivering one-off payments of £500 to UK musicians in order to help them with household expenses and other living costs.

Help Musicians launched a coronavirus financial hardship fund

But Help Musicians said demand is so high that the charity received approximately one months’ worth of enquiries from musicians asking for help in just one day.

Help Musicians’ Chief Executive James Ainscough said: “We are delighted to be able to help out 10,000 musicians during this difficult time, but the reality of the situation is that many more need help, and the funds have run dry.

“Not only do thousands more need assistance, but the £500 grants we have been able to provide will not last the 2-3 month gap until they receive government support. Not only do we need more donations to help us provide immediate hardship relief, the government must act with urgency if musicians are to have any hope of surviving financially over the next few months.

“The UK is a nation of music lovers and we are seeing online and from balcony to balcony, how music can connect the isolated and lift the spirits of a nation. As hard as it is for many at this time, we need to ask those who can afford it to help by donating, because the bottom line is that musicians need vital financial assistance.”

The fund is helping those who work across the music industry, including performers, creators, writers, composers and others in a role requiring a high level of musical skill. The fund is open to all musicians – Help Musicians is not a membership-based organisation.

Every penny donated to Help Musicians goes straight to the frontline without any deduction to cover its operating costs or overheads.

Those able to make a donation can do so at www.helpmusicians.org.uk

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