Grants for actors in the UK can help aspiring performers access acting training, develop the skills of working actors and dancers, and help pay the bills when performers are affected by illness, disability, or hard times.
This page shows some of the sources of help available.
Can you get a scholarship for acting?
Intensive acting courses often ban their students from taking part time jobs, so a scholarship for acting can be essential for some drama students. There are numerous acting scholarships offered across the UK at drama schools and acting classes.
UK drama students attending a recognised undergraduate degree can also apply for a government loan to pay tuition fees, and a household-income dependent loan for living costs.
Financial Help for Drama Students
AMAR-FRANSES AND FOSTER-JENKINS TRUST
Provides grants to educational institutions and to individuals, including several scholarships for the performing arts.
Data for financial year ending 31 August 2020:
Total income £4,916,874
Total expenditure £343,851
THE SIR JOHN GIELGUD CHARITABLE TRUST
Charity number: 800045
The trustees principally grant bursaries to final year drama students who are suffering financial hardship and who are nominated by their respective drama schools. However, they do not accept private applications for funding.
Data for financial year ending 05 April 2020:
Total income £70,470
Total expenditure £148,848
THE JOHN THAW FOUNDATION
Charity number: 1090668
The Foundation supports related charities, education organisations and drama students.
Data for financial year ending 29 February 2020:
Total income £95,340
Total expenditure £106,751
THE OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES MEMORIAL TRUST
Charity number: 278844
The maintenance of a scheme of awards to deserving artists, writers, craftsmen and musicians of any kind who by reason of their poverty are unable to pursue effectively their vocation as such. Beneficiaries must be over 30 years of age and be born within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and must be British Citizens.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £38,552
Total expenditure £49,466
GRACE WYNDHAM GOLDIE (BBC) TRUST FUND
Charity number: 212146
The Trust helps those, at present or previously engaged in broadcasting, who are currently suffering financial hardship or who need assistance with education.
Grants are paid to the individuals on a discretionary basis in light of their financial circumstances.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £65,295
Total expenditure £40,670
THE LIONEL BART FOUNDATION
Charity number: 1086343
The Charity invites applications for bursary awards through various theatre schools. The applications are reviewed by the trustees who ensure that they are in accordance with the charity’s objectives.
Data for financial year ending 05 April 2020:
Total income £81,133
Total expenditure £27,225
THE CYNTHIA DICKINSON CHARITABLE TRUST
Charity number: 1105419
For or towards the relief of poverty or financial hardship for former technicians in the television and cinema industries and for the provision of grants to assist anyone studying to obtain technical qualifications in the television and cinema industries and for or towards such charitable purposes as the trustees think fit.
Data for financial year ending 28 June 2020:
Total income £15,931
Total expenditure £24,919
THE VALERIE WHITE MEMORIAL TRUST
Charity number: 273489
Grant making to animal trusts and drama students.
Data for financial year ending 05 April 2020
Total income £38,270
Total expenditure £18,930
SOPHIE’S SILVER LINING FUND
Charity number: 1071883
Supports young acting and singing students in financial need
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £10,917
Total expenditure £11,018
LISA ULLMANN TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP FUND (LUTSF)
Charity number: 297684
LUTSF helps movement and dance practitioners to extend their knowledge and skills by travelling abroad or in the UK to attend a conference, pursue a research project or undertake a short course of study.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £3,625
Total expenditure £5,116
THE ELLEN TERRY FELLOWSHIP TRUST
Charity number: 313236
Provides scholarship to female drama student(s)
Data for financial year ending 05 April 2021:
Total income £1,707
Total expenditure £2,000
THE MYRETTE MORVEN MUSICAL AWARD
Charity number: 1098166
The trust provides an award for British actors and actresses at the start of their careers so that the person can go to the United States for one year to study American musical technique.
Data for financial year ending 23 June 2020:
Total income £3,589
Total expenditure £492
Help for Performers in Need
Only the lucky few make a lot of money from their acting career. Many actors are left with few savings to see them through difficult times in an insecure profession.
THE FILM AND TELEVISION CHARITY
Charity number: 1099660
Relief of poverty and hardship for those who have worked in the film, cinema or commercial television industries.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £1,112,931
Total expenditure £4,212,754
ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY
Charity number: 206451
Relief of poverty of entertainers, and people associated with the entertainment profession,their surviving partners, spouses and dependants including:
- to pay pensions or to award grants and loans to alleviate hardship;to contribute partly or pay all funeral expenses;
- to operate and maintain a nursing and care home and to contribute partly or pay the fees associated with being a resident in the Home.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £2,890,656
Total expenditure £2,874,867
DENVILLE HALL 2012
Charity number: 1148968
www.denvillehall.org
Denville Hall is a residential nursing and dementia care home for elderly actors and other members of the theatrical profession. The Charity Commission registered charity supports residents of Denville Hall to live with dignity and freedom of choice.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £2,899,039
Total expenditure £2,480,057
EQUITY CHARITABLE TRUST
Charity number: 328103
www.equity.org.uk
Principal activities at the present time are to provide welfare and educational grants for professional performers. The charity also provides the services of a welfare rights and debt adviser for the benefit of professional performers.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2021:
Total income £1,332,879
Total expenditure £1,653,189
THE ACTORS’ BENEVOLENT FUND
Charity Commission Number:206524
www.actorsbenevolentfund.co.uk
To give relief, advice, welfare or assistance to members of the Theatrical Profession who cannot work because of accident, illness or old age, and to their spouses, civil partners and dependants.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £1,445,948
Total expenditure £1,102,830
THE THEATRICAL GUILD
Charity number: 206669
www.ttg.org.uk
The Theatrical Guild is the charity for backstage and front of house workers across the UK offering financial help, access to counselling, welfare advice and educational sponsorship.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £696,237
Total expenditure £521,092
DANCERS’ CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Charity number: 1168958
The Dancers’ Career Development charity provides support, advice and assistance to dancers. This includes help provided to unemployed dancers, according to the trustees’ view of appropriate provision, which may be direct or indirect advice, coaching, vocational training, and retraining.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £558,310
Total expenditure £510,411
THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND
Charity number: 222080
www.trtf.com
Financial and other assistance to those within the entertainment media (and their dependants) who cannot practise their craft through illness, adversity or infirmity
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £1,210,241
Total expenditure £489,723
ACTING FOR OTHERS (A4O)
Registered with the Charity Commission under its original name, The Combined Theatrical Charities Appeals Council.
Charity number: 241279
www.actingforothers.co.uk
Founded in 1965 by Laurence Olivier, Noel Coward and Richard Attenborough, to distribute income from legacies and fundraising events to the 14 theatrical member charities.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £392,761
Total expenditure £375,815
TECH: THE TECHNICAL ENTERTAINMENT CHARITY
Charity number: 1159168
www.backuptech.uk
Providing grants to entertainment technology professionals, or their immediate family, who are seriously ill or injured. Grants may be used for basic living costs, medical related expenses, transportation, retraining, or funerals. Anyone is eligible for assistance who has earned their living in the industry for at least five years working behind the curtain, behind the camera, or on the road.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £487,115
Total expenditure £292,251
KING GEORGE V FUND FOR ACTORS AND ACTRESSES
Charity Commission Number:210740
To pay grants to British Actors & Actresses (a) who have rendered such service to the acting profession as to merit recognition, and (b) who, through altered circumstances, are in a position to require such assistance
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £156,736
Total expenditure £193,081
GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS CHARITIES FUND
Charity number: 292201
http://www.gowr.net
The Grand Order of Water Rats Charities Fund was founded to help members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who due to old age or ill health are in need.
Other charitable organisations and individuals can also be helped if there are sufficient funds available.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £369,436
Total expenditure £123,915
THE DRURY LANE THEATRICAL FUND
Charity number: 209046
The Drury Lane Theatrical Fund was established to help members who have worked at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, either as performers or stage management. Payments are made on their age, retirement or on ceasing work through ill-health or accident. Other grants may be made at the directors discretion.
Data for financial year ending 31 January 2021:
Total income £76,344
Total expenditure £71,734
GRACE WYNDHAM GOLDIE (BBC) TRUST FUND
Charity number: 212146
The Trust helps those, at present or previously engaged in broadcasting, who are currently suffering financial hardship or who need assistance with education.
Grants are paid to the individuals on a discretionary basis in light of their financial circumstances.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £65,295
Total expenditure £40,670
THE RALPH AND MERIEL RICHARDSON FOUNDATION
Charity Commission Number:1074030
The support of established actors and actresses and their families who are experiencing seriously hard times.
Data for financial year ending 30 April 2020:
Total income £50,565
Total expenditure £38,222
THE CYNTHIA DICKINSON CHARITABLE TRUST
Charity number: 1105419
For or towards the relief of poverty or financial hardship for former technicians in the television and cinema industries and for the provision of grants to assist anyone studying to obtain technical qualifications in the television and cinema industries and for or towards such charitable purposes as the trustees think fit.
Data for financial year ending 28 June 2020:
Total income £15,931
Total expenditure £24,919
Holidays for Creatives in Need
EVELYN NORRIS TRUST
Charity number: 260078
To provide grants for the purpose of rest, convalescence and recuperative holidays for members of the concert and theatrical professions.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income £52,256
Total expenditure £46,685
Help for Actors with Children
THE ACTORS’ CHILDREN’S TRUST
Charity Commission Number: 1177106
www.actorschildren.org
Grant, advice and support for the children of professional actors and their families, throughout the UK.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020:
Total income £1,087,850
Total expenditure £981,424
Medical Help for Actors
Working and training in the performing arts can be physically demanding and mentally challenging.
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS MEDICINE
Charity number: 1167785
BAPAM is a healthcare charity giving medical advice to people working and studying in the performing arts through direct provision of information, clinical assessment and referral and through broader education, training, research and dissemination of knowledge about best practice in performing arts medicine
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income: £409,723
Total expenditure: £360,783
UK Spiritual Support for Actors
THEATRE CHAPLAINCY UK
Charity number: 207315
www.theatrechaplaincyuk.com
Trains and supports Theatre Chaplains to meet the pastoral and spiritual needs of those of all faiths and none, who are engaged in the performing arts.
Data for financial year ending 31 December 2020:
Total income: £78,561
Total expenditure: £37,915
THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF PERFORMING ARTS (CAAPA)
Charity number: 267957
020 7240 1221
To make provision to meet the spiritual needs of those members of the Catholic church who are members of the theatrical profession. To give assistance to members in need.
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020
- Total income: £2,636
- Total expenditure: £4,426
