As we set out to raise more funds – launching new initiatives and seeking sponsorship – we welcome approaches from people with projects which might benefit from Musequality’s involvement. Please read the sections on what we support, what we provide and what we ask projects and their leaders to do before downloading our funding application form.

What we support

We support music projects (groups, existing or new, which want to come together to make music) for underprivileged young people in the developing world. In particular we help teachers over the first and biggest hurdle: buying instruments and establishing a new project or organisation. We do this by:

• working in partnership with established organisations which educate or support children but which are not able to run music projects, or wish to run a new music project, or wish to expand or develop an existing music project;
• working with individuals such as community leaders, teachers or enthusiasts who have the will, time, contacts or community wish for a music project where there is scope to pilot or set up a project from scratch;
• working with individuals such as community leaders, teachers or enthusiasts or organisations which have the will, time, contacts or community wish to expand or develop an existing music programme;
• giving one-off grants to music groups or organisations doing outstanding work which we feel have the potential to develop and expand their activities;
• facilitating partnerships between our projects and music ensembles, schools, teachers;
• training our project leaders and other staff.

What we do not do

We cannot support projects in the UK. We also do not support projects where the prime focus is on individuals, rather than on a group.

What we provide

We provide the means to enable groups which want to come together to make music such as:

• musical instruments;
• sheet music;
• music stands;
• training materials;
• transport for children or teachers to travel to the project;
• refurbishing or building premises for rehearsals or performances;
• basic equipment;
• training courses for teachers
• performance expenses.

In time we hope to provide teacher exchanges, enabling teachers in our projects to visit music schools or colleges to enhance their skills and enabling teachers from other countries to visit our projects, bringing new skills and information to widen our students’ horizons.

If what you need is not listed but fits with our approach, please contact us in case we can help.

How long we give support

We provide support, at varying levels, for three years, after which we expect the project to be well-established and self-supporting. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider providing support for up to two additional years, depending on our own resources.

What we ask projects and project leaders to do

• Put child protection at the heart of everything they do. One member of staff in each project must have special responsibility for child protection. UK residents working in our projects must submit a current Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). If there are no such checks in other countries, we require our projects to adopt the Keeping Children Safe Coalition’s standards to the letter. (Full details are at www.keepingchildrensafe.org.uk)
  
  
• Demonstrate they can run a project to the benefit of the children
  Project leaders must demonstrate they have a basic understanding of how to run a project and manage its finances. We aim to keep bureaucracy to a minimum but ask project leaders to complete our standard application form; project leaders who have done so tell us it helped them focus their minds on what was possible and achievable, not just on what was desirable.
  
  
• Prove they have spent our funding appropriately. Project leaders must provide evidence that our funding has been spent as intended. Shortfalls cannot be compensated for by later funding.
  
  
• Show that the project is sustainable beyond the time of our involvement. Our support is for three years. We would not be keen to support a project which is unlikely to last beyond that time. We hope projects will become self-sustaining.
  
  
• Acknowledge Musequality’s support.We would like others to know how Musequality can help; equally we would like Musequality’s donors to know where their donations have been spent. We will supply notices (which can be printed locally) which should be displayed on or in Musequality project buildings/spaces throughout the term of our sponsorship. We will supply logos to be included on websites and which should be printed on programmes throughout the term of our sponsorship. Where we have been instrumental in establishing a project, but if our sponsorship term has ended or if the project was funded by another organisation or organisations, we would expect our role to be acknowledged in buildings/spaces and on websites and printed materials, etc, about the project. Similarly, we expect organisations with which we collaborate to acknowledge our role in their projects on their own websites and literature, etc, about that project. We hope, when funds allow, to provide t-shirts for Musequality project students to wear while taking part in Musequality projects, knowing that this enhances a sense of belonging, pride and achievement.
  
  
• Inform us of anything that might have an impact on our involvement as sponsors or our relationship with the project.

Applying for funding

If you would like to talk to us about a project, before applying for funding, please give us a ring. Otherwise, please download our application form. We are, of course, available to guide you through the form and process so do contact us for help if you want it.