Training, Education, Musical Progression & Opportunity
Financial Assistance
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. TEMPO Fund aims to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent any child from receiving instrumental tuition from us.
Parents/guardians may apply for financial assistance to our means-tested discount scheme, discretionary bursary fund, or one of our partner funds, subject to eligibility.
Universal Credit / FSM Discount Scheme
Our means-tested discount scheme subsidises the cost of lessons and instrument hire fees for pupils aged up to 19 years old who are in receipt of Free School Meals, or whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit.
- 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.
Access & Progression Bursary
We offer targeted support to pupils that face barriers to participation, but who may not be eligible for our means-tested discount scheme, or may need extra support.
- Bursaries of between 40 – 100% are available
- Bursaries are awarded on a discretionary basis, tailored to each applicant’s situation
- Apply online to be considered for support
A&P bursaries support pupils who face financial or other barriers to participation, we welcome applications on behalf of young people from historically under-represented backgrounds, including: members of the Global Majority, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, pupils with SEND or additional needs; care-experienced young people, including Young Carers; and people recently arrived in the UK.
Available to children and young people aged up to 21 years old (or 25 with an additional learning need). Apply via the link below. To request support for an adult over 25 with additional learning needs, please contact us to discuss: tempo@mmf.org.uk
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.
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.
Scops Arts Trust Scholarships
Scops Arts Trust was set up thanks to a generous endowment from the late Tony Wingate. They support high quality projects delivered by committed organisations and contribute towards the positive impact which the arts can make on people’s lives.
Merton Music Foundation has been nominated as delivery partner for a new set of 4-year awards to support access to instrumental learning for around 5 young people in the London Borough of Merton.
Applicants to MMF’s existing Access & Progression Bursary may be considered for a Scops Arts Trust award, which start in January 2028. We will contact eligible pupils with more information.
The Bazley Award (Free Ensemble Membership)
In 2026, Merton Music Foundation received a donation from the Dundonald Musical Trust to support access to ensemble playing for young musicians in Merton. The Bazley Award grants recipients a 100% remission on the cost of Ensemble Membership with MMF for pupils that would otherwise not be able to participate.
Set up in memory of Joanna and Desmond Bazley – local husband and wife musicians who were staunch advocates for music and arts education. They set up the Dundonald Musical Trust to ensure youth music continues to flourish in Merton.
Potential recipients for a Bazley Award will be considered via our Access & Progression Bursary application form, available above.
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 to the future with support from the TEMPO Fund.
We will continue working to support access to music for historically under-represented groups, including 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.
