Musicians Benevolent Fund

The Musicians Benevolent Fund was founded in 1921 in memory of Gervase Elwes, the celebrated English tenor. During the first year, just eleven grants were made totalling £90. However, the MBF grew steadily and received a great boost when Dame Myra Hess generously donated the proceeds of her wartime National Gallery concerts.

Today the MBF 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 MBF 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 MBF also took over the responsibilities of the Scottish Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Music Trades Benevolent Society.