Musicians Benevolent Fund

The Musicians Benevolent Fund was founded in 1921, in memory of celebrated English tenor Gervase Elwes and was then called The Gervase Elwes Memorial Fund. During his life Gervase Elwes had shown compassion and kindness to his colleagues and, following his death, his friends set up a fund in his name.

Sir Edward Elgar was the first president of The Gervase Elwes Memorial Fund, and Elgar was a key player in setting the objectives of the Fund, many of which are still relevant today. In 1930 the Gervase Elwes Memorial Fund changed its name to the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

During the first year, just eleven grants were made totalling £90. However, the Fund grew steadily and received a great boost when Dame Myra Hess generously donated the proceeds of her wartime National Gallery concerts.

Today the Musicians Benevolent Fund is the music business's own charity - the largest in the UK, helping around 1,500 people of any age and in any area of the music business who are in need as a result of illness, accident or other misfortune.

In addition, the Fund now has an ever-expanding and important music education role, centred on providing financial support to outstandingly talented instrumentalists and singers in the final stages of study.

In 2002, the Fund also took over the responsibilities of the Scottish Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Music Trades Benevolent Society.