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AMBER Music Awards
What They Are

Verity   The AMBER Trust set up their
   Music Awards scheme to fund:

      music lessons

      music therapy sessions

      the purchase of musical
       instruments

      music software, such as Sibelius

      concert tickets

      travel related to musical activities



Access to musical instruments and specialist music lessons vastly increases the musical ability of AMBER's children. Music software enables them to compose and arrange their own music, while attending concerts expands their experience of musical styles and performance.

For us at AMBER, it is a joy to see what a huge difference music can make – and is making – to these children’s lives.

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Why They Are Important
Faith on pianoThere are over 24,000 blind or partially
sighted children in the UK, many of
whom have a real flair for music.
With
the right support they can develop
their talent to remarkable ends,
fulfilling their potential as individuals
as well as musicians.

Many families with disabled children
cannot afford to buy the most basic
household leisure equipment that many
of us take for granted. When a child
with special needs shows an interest in
music, progressing this requires funds
that are often not available. The AMBER
Music Awards address this need.

Faith playing the piano

Faith's music teacher says:
Music is Faith's passion, whether listening or playing instruments.
It motivates her, calms her and gives her great joy.

I appreciate the work that you are doing, having taught in a school
for the blind for many years, working with multiply disabled visually
impaired children. It is good to be able to 'unlock' so much that is 
within them through music and to see their joy. In all my years of
teaching, there have been very few children who have not responded
to music. Long may your work continue." 

 

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Who Can Apply

The Awards are open to blind or partially sighted children and young people up to the age of 18, who may also have other physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. Parents or carers can apply for Music Awards to fund:

Casper

  •      music lessons
  •      music therapy sessions
  •      the purchase of musical
          instruments
  •      the purchase of specialist
          software
  •      the purchase of concert tickets
  •      travel related to musical
          activities

 
Each Music Award lasts for up to one year to fund three terms of lessons
or sessions, one-off events or the purchase of instruments or software.


AMBER Music Award Criteria

  •   Applications will be accepted for children and young people aged from
      0-18 years (funding cannot be provided after their 19th birthdays). 
  •   All applications should be made by a child’s parents or carers, but can
      be prepared by a Support Worker or Teacher.
  •   Applications for instruments or software must include prices and
      supplier’s details.
  •   Applications for music lessons or music therapy sessions must include
      details of the teacher’s or therapist’s qualifications, experience and
      CRB clearance.
  •   In some instances, the AMBER Trust will not provide the full cost and
      applicants will therefore be required to raise the balance from other
      sources. They can, of course, use the AMBER pledge to encourage
      other funding.
  •   Music Award offers will be held open for a 10-month period, after
      which they will lapse and a new application would need to be made
      to The AMBER Trust.
  •   The AMBER Trust will not fund retrospectively.

 



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How To Apply

The AMBER Trust holds three Award meetings per year. Parents or carers need to ensure that they send in the completed application forms by the deadlines given below:

Tirion

   Meeting            Deadline
   Mid March          End of February
   Mid July             End of June
   Mid November    End of October

   All applications must be
   made on The AMBER Trust’s 
   Music Award Application Form.
   Once an application has been received,
   it will be checked to confirm it is
   complete. Any further information
   required will be requested from the
   applicant. For all eligible applications,
   the parents/carers will receive a
   notification letter to:

   arrow  Confirm receipt of the application

   arrow  Outline the timescale of the
       application process

   arrow  Establish when parents or carers
       can expect to hear the outcome

If you have not found a suitable music teacher or therapist for your child,
the RNIB’s Music Advisory Service may be able to help. The Music Advisory
Service provides information and advice on music education at all levels
and can be contacted on 0207 391 2273 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Re-Applying

Joseph on drums

Parents or carers need to
re-apply each year for further
funding for any child who has
previously been supported by
AMBER. To do this they must
fill out a Re-Application Form.
It is very important they answer
all the questions as fully as
possible as this helps AMBER
understand what impact the
Music Award is having on their
child’s musical progress, as well
as his or her day-to-day life. 

 
Useful Links

The Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Musical Awards
For those who are over 18, with a serious interest in musical performance, another source of support is available – the Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Musical Awards, administered by the RNIB. For more information, please go to:

 

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/leisureculture/music/makingmusic/musicians/Pages/musicawards.aspx