TEMPO Fund (Financial Assistance)
Training, Education, Musical Progression and Opportunity
Our vision is a borough where every child can find their first notes, make progress and flourish as a young musician.
As a registered charity, we recognise that children and young people may face many barriers to participation in the arts and music. The TEMPO Fund Discount Scheme aims to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent any child from receiving instrumental tuition from us.
Financial Assistance
Parents/guardians may apply for financial assistance via our TEMPO Fund Discount Scheme or one of our partner funds, subject to eligibility.
TEMPO Fund Discount Scheme
Formerly known as MMF Trust Fund
Our TEMPO Fund Discount Scheme supports eligible pupils by subsidising the cost of lessons and instrument hire fees.
- ✦ 40% reduction of tuition fees* and Ensemble Membership fee
- ✦ 25% off Large Group lessons and Classes
- ✦Reduced rate instrumental hire
*40% discount applies to all lesson types up to the Individual 30 Minute lesson. Longer lesson lengths will be discounted by the equivalent of 40% of the cost of a 30 minute lesson.
Eligibility Criteria
Children (aged 5-18) whose parents/guardians receive:
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
How Much Will I Pay?
| Full fees | After TEMPO Fund Discount | |
| Individual Lesson / 20 min | £177 | £106.20 |
| Individual Lesson / 30 min | £228 | £136.80 |
| Paired Lesson / 30 min | £146 | £87.60 |
| Group of 3 Lesson / 30 min | £92 | £55.20 |
| Ensemble Membership | £99 | £59.40 |
| Large Groups and Classes (eg. Amplify, Large Group Ukulele, Early Years & Keyboard Groups at Saturday Music School) | £83 | £62.25 |
| Instrument hire | £40-57 | £15 |
NB: Adults who are in receipt of Personal Independence Payment benefit from paying full child rates, instead of adult rates.
Charitable Partners
We are proud to have partnered with other charitable organisations that share our values for music education. By working together, we are able to support more young people to access provision, regardless of the barriers they may face.
The Jack Lonergan Foundation
The Jack Lonergan Foundation (TJLF) supports access to music for Merton children. TJLF was set up in memory of local teacher, Jack, who passed away aged 28 in 2021.
The Jack Lonergan Foundation currently funds free places for eligible pupils in Music Production, DJ, Ukulele, Beatboxing and ‘Amplify’ Rock & Pop groups at our Music Centres in South Wimbledon and Mitcham.
Eligibility Criteria
Pupils that meet any of the following criteria can apply for a free place at one of our TJLF supported activities:
- ✦ In receipt of Free School Meals (excluding UIFSM) or Pupil Premium Grant funding
- ✦ Have an additional learning need. (e.g. on the school’s SEND register, identify as being neurodivergent, identify as being disabled)
- ✦ Are a member of a historically under-represented community; we are particularly interested in hearing from young people of Black or Black British heritage
- ✦ Are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community
- ✦ Are care-experienced (currently or have previously been a Child Looked After), or are a Young Carer (someone who helps to care for a family member or other relative)
Contact: inclusion@mmf.org.uk for more information.
London Music Fund Scholarships
Every year we are able to nominate students for a London Music Fund Scholarship. These are four-year music programmes for children who have begun learning an instrument (often from our In2Music programme) and are showing significant progress. These scholarships are designed to support families who struggle to afford music lessons, ensuring that these talented children can continue to develop their creativity.
Nominations are made after consultations between MMF and schools/tutors.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be put forward for a Scholarship, the child must:
- ✦ Be in Year 4 or 5, attending a state school
- ✦ Have been learning an instrument for at a minimum of 1 year
- ✦ Show potential and commitment to learning
- ✦ Be in a family where the ongoing cost of tuition would be prohibitive
Special Projects & Music Awards
The TEMPO Fund aims to ensure we realise our vision for Moving Music Forward in Merton for every child. We are committed to ensuring that our work supports our three charitable pillars of: Transparency & Visibility; Community & Partnerships; and Equity & Access.
We have ambitious plans to further widen the reach of the TEMPO Fund. MMF has a long history of planning and delivering Special Projects and events for Merton school children, which we will continue to do long in the future with support from the TEMPO Fund.
Over the coming year, we plan to develop a series or Music Awards & Scholarships to support access to music for historically under-represented groups. Specifically, we aim to support young people of the Global Majority, young people who are neurodivergent, have additional needs or SEND, care-experienced young people (including Young Carers) and youth members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
TEMPO: Training, Education, Musical Progression and Opportunity.
Support TEMPO Fund
Can you help us to make music accessible for all?
Donate to the TEMPO Fund today to support our work and keep Moving Music Forward in Merton.
