The Metal For Good Fund

Metal For Good is the brainchild of two rock and heavy metal fans, Katy and Chris Baker, who have been inspired to try and make a positive difference in society using the power of music.

The Metal For Good Fund is designed to support community groups and projects in England and Wales that use music and the values of the rock and metal community to help create a more equal society.

Metal for Good is currently inviting Expressions of Interest from community groups, charities and non-profit organisations for a grant of up to £3,000 to deliver community projects that use music as a tool for change.

Metal For Good’s funding themes align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The UNSDGs were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 and are a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for the people and the planet.

Funding is available for:

• Projects and services that work – helping groups maintain, expand or provide new services, with an emphasis on quality and effectiveness.
  
• Projects and services that use music, or related activities as a tool for social change, and
• Projects and services must focus on one or more of the following themes:

1. Helping young people to thrive – this could include projects that provide
   extra-curricular music opportunities within mainstream education using music to address social exclusion and raise attainment, it may also include projects in alternative provision which use music to help build confidence, raise aspiration and develop new skills. The Fund will also look to support music projects based in the community that work with children and young people to address social exclusion. This funding area is focused on projects which support children and young people (aged 0-24).
2. Addressing inequalities – this could include projects that provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to gain music skills or break into the music industry. It could include mentoring programmes, community/showcase events or specialist training for groups with defined characteristics. This funding area is focused on projects which support all age groups. This could also include projects that use music to give underrepresented groups a voice, or bring communities together.
3. Improving wellbeing – this could include projects that use music to improve physical and mental wellbeing, and could include projects such as peer support groups, singing groups and dance/exercise groups. This funding area is focused on projects which support all age groups.

Through these goals, Metal For Good aims to support innovative new ideas and existing projects using music and the values of our community to create real impact for the rock, metal and wider community across the UK.

Up to 6 projects will be awarded funding, broken down as follows:

• 1 grant of £3.000.
  
• 2 grants of £2,000, and
• 3 grants of £3,000.

The Fund is particularly keen to help grassroots community groups and small-to-medium-sized voluntary organisations (you do not have to be a registered charity to apply). Funding is not normally available for large UK-wide charities.