The Henley Festival Grants Scheme

Did you know that the Henley Festival, an event everybody knows to be an extraordinary and elegant event by the Thames is also a charity? The Festival only lasts five days in July but its parent charity, the Henley Festival Trust, works in the community throughout the year, funding a music therapist at the brain injury charity Headway Thames Valley, running the Henley Festival Orchestra for young musicians, and providing one of the largest education outreach programmes in the country for schools and community groups. All net proceeds from the Henley Festival go directly to the Henley Festival Trust's work.

The Henley Festival is offering a new grants scheme for arts associations and for young individuals studying the arts. These grants are available in large part due to the success of the 2011 Henley Festival. The charity, Henley Festival Trust, would like to hear from community arts associations, schools, education programmes and students of the arts based in the Henley area. The charity Trustees are particularly interested in plans for new initiatives or extensions of existing projects where many members of the community benefit, particularly young people or those in challenging circumstances.

The Trustees meet twice a year in April and October.

For the next meeting, grant applications must be received by Friday 23rd September at the following address:

the Secretary to the Trustees
Henley Festival Trust
14 Friday Street
Henley on Thames
RG9 1AH

Grants for Arts Organisations, Schools and Colleges

The Trustees of the Henley Festival Trust invite applications from arts organisations and schools. Funding will be considered for specific events / projects, equipment and facilities. Organisations include educational establishments, amateur associations of music and the arts including visual arts and those promoting the arts in their broadest sense: music, theatre, dance and the visual arts.

Grants will be considered up to a maximum of £1000.

Applicants should operate / have members within the Henley catchment area. The Trustees are particularly interested in new initiatives or extensions of existing projects where many members of the community will benefit, particularly young people.

Each application will be assessed on its individual merits. Grants are intended to supplement existing funds.

These should be completed and returned to the above address accompanied by some background to the organisation and evidence of funding from other sources. You must also enclose a copy of the last year's accounts.

The Trustees meet twice a year in April and October. All applicants are informed of the decision immediately. The charity likes to keep in touch with recipients of grants and is interested to know of developments. Successful applicants may be contacted from time to time.

Arts organisations grant application form: download PDF

Grants for Young People

Musical Instruments, Equipment and Short Courses in Music & the Arts

The Trustees of the Henley Festival Trust invite applications from young people towards the purchase of musical instruments and towards short specialist courses such as Summer Schools in the arts including music, theatre, dance and the visual arts. Grants may also be available for equipment relating to arts courses such as dance wear or artists' materials.

Applicants should be in, or have recently left, full-time education. They should have close ties with the Henley area, either living or attending school or college within the Henley area currently or in the recent past. Applications will be assessed on individual merit and promise taking into account evidence of achievement and commitment. Grants are normally directed to young people in their latter years at school or in further education and are intended to supplement existing funds. Grants are considered up to a maximum of £1000.

These should be completed and returned to the above address accompanied by letters of recommendation from the instrumental or specialist teacher; a member of school/college staff; and counter-signed by parent or guardian. A covering letter from the applicant should also be enclosed outlining their future plans.

Individual grant application form: download PDF