Frequently asked questions about the Access Fund 

Are there application deadlines for the Application Access Fund?

Forms should be submitted anytime between six weeks before the relevant fund round opens and up to one week before the round closes. Forms received more than six weeks before the fund round opens will be rejected and you will be asked to resubmit at a later date.

We can accept applications up to one week before the round closes. 

If you need more information about this fund or think you will need more funding to submit an application please contact us on: grants@youthmusic.org.uk to discuss your case. 

Please make sure that you’re aware of the application deadlines for the main Youth Music grant fund you want to apply for, and that you allow enough time to meet this deadline in your planning.  

Can I apply more than once?

Yes – there are no limits on the number of times that you can apply to the Application Access Fund.

Can Youth Music help me choose an access support worker?

Youth Music is unable to supply access support workers. If you are choosing an access support worker, we recommend that you: 

• Choose someone that you are happy to work with.
• Check that they have the right skills and experience before you commit to working with them. 

You should not be required to pay someone upfront. You should wait until they have completed the service to a satisfactory standard before you pay them. 

You can also check out Shape arts’ guidance on how to find an access support worker and look at the Disability Arts Online directory for further support. 

What further support is available with my application once I’ve been awarded an Application Access Fund grant?

A member of the Grants and Learning Team can provide advice and support to both you and/or your access support worker.  You can contact the Grants and Learning Team by emailing grants@youthmusic.org.uk or calling 020 7902 1060.

Are there any costs that Youth Music doesn’t support under the Application Access Fund?

The Access Fund has been designed to support Disabled applicants to submit grant applications on our online system. You cannot use the Application Access Fund to cover the following costs:

• Access support for developing your project before you are ready to apply (e.g. initial project scoping, consultation, or project planning)
• Translation of our guidance or application form into other spoken languages
• Translation of your application from another spoken language into English
• Costs already covered by the Government’s Access to Work scheme.

I’m not able to submit an Application Access Fund form using any of the available options. Is there another way for me to apply?

If you need further support to apply for the Application Access Fund please contact the Grants and Learning Team by emailing grants@youthmusic.org.uk or calling 020 7902 1060.

A member of staff will help you to submit your form. This might involve going through the questions with you over the phone and submitting the form on your behalf.

What is Access to work?

Access to work is designed to help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. Through access to work, you can apply to the Government for:

• A grant to help pay for practical support with your work.
• Support with managing your mental health at work.

It can pay for things like:

• Changes to the equipment you use.
• Special equipment.
• Fares to work if you can’t use public transport.
• A support worker or job coach to help you in the workplace.
• A support service if you have a mental health condition and you are. absent from work or finding it difficult to work.
• Disability awareness training for your colleagues.

We urge people with access needs to apply to this scheme, because it offers specialist, central Government funding. This frees up Youth Music funding to be spent on reaching more children and young people.

However, we recognise that Access to Work grants may not cover all your needs, in which case you can request them to be ‘topped up’ by Youth Music. 

If you are in the process of applying to Access to Work, you can still make an application to Youth Music. You should make an application for an interim period until you know the outcome of your Access to Work grant. 

Access to Work grant funding is paid retrospectively. This means you need to pay for costs upfront and claim the money back. This can impact on cashflow. As Youth Music grants are paid upfront, we are happy for you to use your Youth Music payments to cover costs that will be repaid through Access to Work.

If you would like to know more about access to work:

• Watch or listen to Youth Music’s Access to Work exchanging notes recording. This online seminar provided an overview of the scheme. It was run by a Youth Music funded partner and their access support worker, informed by their own personal experiences.
• Disability Arts Online has some great resources on Access to Work. It has different sections for the self-employed, employees and company directors, and employers. 

Can I use the access fund or the personal access costs towards supporting the access costs of the young people we will engage with throughout the project?

No, the access fund and the personal access costs request are not geared towards supporting the young people you engage with throughout your project. We expect t see these costs built into your project plan and budget in your application (and therefore are not additional). 

Whilst some groups have higher access needs, there is no additional funding available for this. However, we understand that projects with high participant access needs might look different from others. For example, they might work with fewer participants.

You cannot use the Access Fund to cover the following costs:

• Access support for developing your project before you are ready to apply (e.g. initial project scoping, consultation, or project planning)
• Translation of our guidance or application form into other spoken languages
• Translation of your application from another spoken language into English

I’m not able to submit an Access Fund application using any of the available options. Is there another way for me to apply?

If you need further support to apply for the Access Fund please contact the Grants and Learning Team by emailing grants@youthmusic.org.uk or calling 020 7902 1060.

A member of staff will help you to submit your application. This might involve going through the questions with you over the phone and submitting the application on your behalf.