Helping families access music therapy

Apply for a grant to fund a block of (usually 10) music therapy sessions.

A young girl in a pink and white striped tshirt playing a cabasa, an instrument made of wood and metal string balls, being supproted by two pairs of adult hands.

What does the grant cover?

Jessie’s Fund awards grants that fully or partially fund a block of music therapy sessions for an individual child or young person. We ask applicants to specify the number and length of sessions they are requesting, but, usually, a grant covers around 10 sessions and a report.

We ask applicants if they are able to financially contribute towards the sessions, as this helps us stretch our limited resources and lets us help more children. However, we appreciate the pressure on families and understand if this is not possible.

Application deadlines are at the end of every month, for consideration by our assessment panel early the following month and applicants will hear from us shortly after this.

If you think music therapy sessions would benefit your child or a child you work with, please read the rest of the page before submitting the application form at the bottom.

Eligibility and requirements

Please read the information below carefully before making an application.

We can only award grants to children and young people (up to 25yrs) who have:

Significant barriers to communication and interaction
Complex and multiple disabilities or life-limiting medical needs
Limited engagement with people, activities and the world around them.

If your circumstances meet this criteria, the following applies:

Applications must be accompanied by the child/young person’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), if they have one, or a supporting letter from a healthcare/education professional that states how they would benefit from the grant. If the EHCP is more than two years out of date, then a short supporting letter will also be required to clarify their current needs. These documents music be emailed to us separately at info@jessiesfund.org.uk.
We accept applications from either parents/carers or professionals working with the child or young person.
Applications must be for individual children and not for a class or group within a school or any other setting.
The application should detail any previous music therapy which the child/young person has engaged with, and the outcomes of the sessions.
The application should include any previous successful or unsuccessful applications to Jessie’s Fund and any applications to other organisations.
We will only be able to accept applications for a second block of music therapy in exceptional circumstances.
We do not offer grants for purchasing musical instruments for individuals, or for instrumental lessons.
Applicants must have already identified the music therapist or music therapy organisation they would like to deliver the sessions. You can find a music therapist in your area through the British Association of Music Therapy website
The sessions you are seeking funding for must not have already taken place. We do not consider retrospective applications.
Applicants need to fill in the online form below. All sections must be completed.

Terms and conditions

Jessie’s Fund awards grants to individuals subject to the following terms and conditions:

The grantee is responsible for finding an appropriate music therapist to deliver the agreed sessions and communicating to them the outcome of the application.
The grantee confirms that the grant will be used only for the purpose specified in their application (music therapy sessions for the name child/young person).
Jessie’s Fund will pay the awarded grant directly to the music therapist/music therapy organisation for the sessions agreed upon for an individual child/young person based on the costs given in the application form. The therapist/organisation is responsible for invoicing Jessie’s Fund for these sessions.
The therapist/organisation can invoice Jessie’s Fund at the start, during or end of the sessions. They can invoice for the full amount or for a number of sessions in a set time, e.g. monthly invoicing of sessions.
Jessie’s Fund takes no responsibility for the cancellation or rearranging of sessions.
Grants awarded must be claimed within a year of agreeing the grant. If an extension is needed this must be discussed and agreed with Jessie’s Fund within this timescale.
If the applicant has agreed to make a specified contribution, they must arrange to pay this directly with the music therapist. Jessie’s Fund is not responsible for these payments if they are not paid.
The therapist/organisation will return to Jessie’s Fund any funding for prepaid sessions which do not take place for any reason.
The therapist must compile and send a short report to Jessie’s Fund detailing the impact of the grant once the sessions have finished.
Jessie’s Fund reserves the right to request repayment of the grant if the above conditions are not met.
By accepting an Individual Grant on behalf of a child/young person from Jessie’s Fund you are agreeing to the above terms and conditions.

Submit your application

Your name (not the child/young person's)

First Last

Your address

Street Address Address Line 2 City Postcode

Phone

Your email

Your relationship with the child/young person

If you are not the parent/carer and you work for an organisation, please specify which

Name of child/young person

First Last

Their address, if different from above

Their date of birth

Please describe their additional, complex and/or medical needs, including any relevant diagnoses

Please describe their barriers to communication and interaction

Please describe their ability to engage with people, activities and the world around them

Name of school/educational setting attended, if applicable

What other therapies or activities is the child or young person currently accessing?

If the child has previously received music therapy, please give brief details including the name of the therapist(s), the outcome and how this was funded

If you have you made any other applications to Jessie’s Fund or any other organisation for music therapy funding in the past, please give brief details including whether the application was successful or not

Name, HCPC registration number, email address and phone number of the your chosen music therapist/music therapy organisation

Number and length of sessions requested (e.g. 10 x 30 minute sessions)

Details of your chosen music therapist’s/organisation’s fees (e.g. £45 for one hour session; £500 for an assessment, 8 sessions and a report)

We want to be able to help as many children as possible with our limited resources, and a contribution towards the therapy allow us to do this. However, we also appreciate the pressures on families. Would you be able to contribute towards the therapy?

Please add any additional information here

Please send a supporting document such as EHCP and/or medical supporting letter to info@jessiesfund.org.uk, and let us know in the box below whichwhat document(s) you are sending