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.
Who is eligible?
We require that applicants have held PRS membership for at least seven years or have earned £500 in royalties for us to consider their request, having regard to individual circumstances.
We claim that we hear you, we’re here for you. Your Fund, for you. But what does this mean?
We listen. We respond. We try to ensure that the range of support on offer meets the current needs of members. Our service provision constantly evolves so that the grants on offer remain relevant and can support those suffering physical or mental health or financial difficulty in the most appropriate way.
To check full range of services available click here.
The Fund exists for PRS members, ex-members and their dependants.
Disclaimer
Our Resources page may contain or reference links to websites operated by third parties (“Third Party Websites”). These links are provided as a convenience only. Such Third Party Websites are not under our control. We are not responsible for the content of any Third Party Website or any link contained in a Third Party Website. In no event will we be responsible for the information contained in such Third Party Website or for your use of or inability to use such website. Access to any Third Party Website is at your own risk, and you acknowledge and understand that linked Third Party Websites may contain terms and privacy policies that are different from ours. We are not responsible for such provisions, and expressly disclaim any liability for them.
Our Partner Organisations
– Mental health: Help Musicians’ Music Minds Matter
– Debt management: StepChange Debt Charity
– Housing: Shelter
– Physical health: BAPAM
PRS Foundation
Our sister charity PRS Foundation is the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. It supports outstanding talent from all backgrounds and reaches music creators from the grassroots up.
If you’re a talented UK-based music creator, find out more about PRS Foundation’s support on its Funding page.
We have also partnered with PRS Foundation’s Power Up programme, the long-term initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives to create real opportunities, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.
Our support
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.
The Fund can provide crisis grants, information or ongoing help whilst we work to find more longer term solutions to members’ needs. We also work with StepChange Debt Charity, where we can refer members directly for a confidential and personalised service. To check if you qualify for help, you can 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.
Universal Credit Step-by-Step
Benefit applications for Universal Credit are well known to be difficult and complex. This tool will take you through an easy self-help process:
- There’s a checklist and visual feedback in simple steps along with a summary of the most common mistakes and pitfalls people make.
- Track as you input information, and the tool will show you what comes next.
- You can return to the process later if you can’t complete it all in one go.
Click here to access the Universal Credit resources.
If you want to check you are eligible to claim and how much UC you might be entitled to, use the benefit calculator – it’s right at the top under the heading ‘Wait! – should I apply?’ – check here.
Cost of Living Helper
If you are worried about money there is a lot of help out there. Knowing where to start can be tricky, but in this tool you will find advice and handy tips about what you can do.
Click here for general advice and information on what to do if you are experiencing difficulties.
Health and Well-being
Your health and well-being are important to us. 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 put together some useful resources to support our members’ emotional well-being. 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. Click here to find out more.
Mental Health Support
We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Music Minds Matter, Help Musicians’ dedicated mental health service for the whole music industry, to reinforce the mental well-being support available to the PRS creative community.
Every call on the 24/7 free and confidential support line is answered by a trained counsellor who can support you in the moment, as well as direct you to further help if needed. As a PRS member one-to-one counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and other services may also be available.
Click here to find out more.
Business skills for musicians
Improve your understanding of the music business and drive your career forward through these free weekly online sessions run by Help Musicians. Click here to find out more.
If you need a hand getting started, or a reminder of how to get the most from your PRS membership you can find here useful webinars and video tutorials cover the essentials to managing your PRS account.
Tell other members
With around 165,000 PRS for Music members in the UK and across the world, the number of members we could possibly help is huge. Contacting each and every one (even if GDPR regulations permit, which they don’t always) to let them know about the Fund would be a mammoth undertaking. The Fund provides a safety net for members in times of crisis. So please help us spread the word.
Donations
We are able to help members and their families in genuine need thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Every penny donated goes towards grants and allow us to continue to deliver our work, especially during these exceptional times.
By choosing to donate to the Fund you’ll play an invaluable role in supporting music creators in times of need.
If you wish to donate to the PRS Members’ Fund, we accept online donations through JustGiving – click here.
If you would like to make a major donation or leave a legacy, visit prsmembersfund.com/donate and find out more on how support our work. We will be happy to discuss the next steps with you.