Help Musicians UK is providing more support than ever before to its beneficiaries, as revealed today at the charity’s Annual General Meeting by Chief Executive James Ainscough, according to the 2018 Annual Report and Financial Statements.
Providing more support than ever before:
The charity increased its expenditure on the Creative and Health & Welfare Programme by 23% to £6.2m in 2018.
Help Musicians UK has made a record number of payments to support individuals and organisations, rising by 67%, a direct impact of 14,255 with individuals and organisations in 2018, reaching more musicians outside London and from BAME backgrounds than ever before.
This increased activity and expenditure includes:
Record number of 6,579 Health & Welfare payments to musicians, to value of £2.2m, growing by 38% from last year.
Supported 5,191 musicians via the Musicians Hearing Health Scheme, to value of £0.6m, growing by huge 165% from 1,960 in 2017.
312 Creative development grants awarded to individuals and organisations.
674 home visits to musicians in need.
987 medical assessments funded through British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).
Launch of Do It Differently Fund in October - a response to research that identified need among independent music creators. The fund provides 360 degree support across creative, wellbeing and business and is the charity’s most successful fund ever.
The one-year anniversary of Music Minds Matter – the service continues to make a difference hundreds of lives, serving individuals in the music industry who are struggling to cope, providing a listening ear support service around the clock.
Insight-led & collaborative:
The charity’s approach is for its style of working to be insight-led and collaborative. Therefore in 2018:
Growth in number of collaborations – across the UK and Nations and Regions there have been 46 strategic partnerships formed, with 39 events on the subject of mental health
Research-based initiatives into the needs of beneficiaries - parents and carers in the industry, career longevity and the needs of older musicians, how to support independent creators, perception of mental health and awareness of MMM, healthy touring, needs of musicians and the industry in Scotland
Commenting on the 2018 results and announcing the charity’s ‘100% Pledge’, Help Musicians UK Chief Executive James Ainscough said
“This year’s results highlight that the need for our services is greater than ever and still growing. Help Musicians wants a world where musicians thrive, yet we know that the nature of a musician’s career, together with the current volatility of the UK’s economic and political climate, can leave them uniquely vulnerable. We continually gather insights to shape our support so that our Programme is relevant to all professional musicians and meets their most pressing health, welfare, creative and career needs. We are committed to working collaboratively with partner organisations to identify need and deliver support where it is needed most.
With the increase in demand for our vital work comes an increased financial burden. We are currently spending more (£9.16m) than we receive (£4.27m) in annual income and this shortfall (£4.89m) is being met from the charity’s reserves, to enable us to keep pace with the growing need for our support. Whilst we can afford this for a little while it is not sustainable in the long-term, therefore we need to raise our income. We are incredibly grateful to our existing donors and will be stepping up our fundraising efforts in 2019. Donors can be confident that our insight-led approach ensures their donations make a meaningful difference. And our “100% pledge”, whereby we commit to covering all of the charity’s overheads with income from our investment portfolio, reassures donors that every penny of their support will go straight to the frontline to help our beneficiaries.”
