This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week focused on anxiety is May 15 to 21.
Mental Health Awareness Week gives a chance to increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.
Here at the Fund we work with other organisations to ensure that PRS members have access to medical assessments and treatments, and we can fund the cost.
Although there are many different resources out there, it can be hard to find what you need, or know how best to access the support available. Here at the Fund we try to ensure that the range of support on offer meets the needs of our members by making it easy to search for timely help.
Your health and well-being are important to us, check below how we can support you during difficult times.
Mental Health Support
If you’re struggling to cope we work with Help Musicians‘ Music Minds Matter, which offers a free and confidential 24/7 mental health support line.
PRS for Music members have access to information, advice, listening, emotional support and signposting to additional services. It can really help to have a chat about how you’re feeling so just give Music Minds Matter a call – anytime day or night – on 0808 802 8008 or visit https://explore.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/.
You can also watch useful videos here about ways to deal with anxiety.
Respite breaks scheme
Our Respite breaks scheme, kindly funded by the Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust, aims at PRS members who may be struggling financially and in need of space to create or find respite, to enjoy time away in order to rest, recuperate, research, work on their music and songs (alone or in collaboration), rehearse, or simply have a short break.
There are a number of options that could be applicable, click here to find out more.
Looking After Your Mental Health
We’ve put together a guideline with tips on looking after your mental health; check our poster clicking below:
Physical Health Support
We work with others to ensure that members have access to medical assessments and treatments, and we can fund the cost. We can provide grants for mobility equipment and home adaptations.
We work with British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), who can help guide you to find specialist health assessments and support. Call BAPAM at 020 7404 8444 or visit https://www.bapam.org.uk/, let them know you are a PRS member.
Cost of Living
The help on offer from the Fund is expanding. We can provide grants and offer welfare support for financial, health, family and care-related needs.
Our support usually represents grants to cover general day-to-day living costs, but other areas of grant support include funeral costs, essential household repairs, replacement of white goods, arrears, winter fuel assistance for the vulnerable, and other emergency costs.
If you need financial help buying household or other essential items, please make sure that you apply to the Fund before you commit to making a purchase.
Debt Management
If you have financial worries we work with StepChange and we can refer you directly for a confidential and personalised service.
If you’re not sure if you qualify for help, take a free 60-second test, the StepChange team will let you know if you need debt advice and suggest what your next steps could be. Take the test here.
Furthermore, you can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to.
Apply for help
If you need support please submit your application here.
All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.
