Being a musician is both physically and mentally demanding. If a performance-related condition interrupts a musician’s studies or the early stages of their career, the impact can be serious.
Our Emerging Musicians' Health Scheme provides access to healthcare quickly. We do this by working in partnership with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), an independent charity which offers free health assessments. If you are subsequently told you need a short-term treatment that isn’t available promptly on the NHS, we may be able to help with a grant of up to £750 towards the costs.
WHO WE CAN HELP
If you’re a music student or musician at the start of your career with a performance-related health problem, either physical or psychological, we can help as long as you are either:
- a full-time undergraduate (or equivalent) or post-graduate student within the UK, studying a course where music constitutes at least 50% of the course criteria.
or
- able to demonstrate earnings from music within the last 6 months. This includes paid work as a DJ, sound engineer, songwriter and various other roles in the industry.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please don’t hesitate to contact us via emergingmusicianshealthscheme@helpmusicians.org.uk or on 0207 239 9101.
Bear in mind we cannot help towards treatment costs for health problems not directly linked to performance, or which are pre-existing and need long-term treatment. We also can’t help with the cost of routine dental work.
HOW IT WORKS
The process starts with a free assessment with a BAPAM clinician. If they feel that the short-term help you need isn’t available quickly from the NHS, they will recommend you apply to the Emerging Musicians' Health Scheme.
To arrange an appointment with a BAPAM clinician please call 0207 404 8444.
Note for Music Students
Many music colleges offer assistance to students suffering from performance-related health problems and we expect students to access any help available from their college before applying.
If you are a music student but don’t meet the criteria above, you can still receive a free assessment from BAPAM but will not be able to apply for funding towards treatment costs.