Financial Support & Assistance
No young person who is offered a place on a NYOS course should face financial barriers.
The NYOS Bursary Fund exists for participants who find it difficult to meet the costs of membership dees. All applications are treated in the strictest confidence.
This year we have adjusted the income banding to ensure that bursary support is more accessible to a wider range of families. We hope this will help even more young people take part in NYOS courses. We truly appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to build a thriving, inclusive, and high-quality national youth orchestra. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your situation confidentially, please contact us at financeinvoices@nyos.co.uk.
The NYOS Bursary Fund works on the following model:
FREE Places:
- Available for individuals where the total household income before tax is £30,000 or under.
- For individuals who are in foster care, or under the care of a local authority.
- For those in receipt of:
- Universal credit
- Young carer grant
- Income support
- Income-based job seeker's allowance
- Income-based employment and support allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child tax credit (not: working tax credit) and income under £16,105
- Child tax credit and working tax credit with income up to £7,500
Reduced Fees:
If your total household income before tax is £70,000 or under:
- £0 - £30,000 - 100%
- £30,000 - £35,000 - 90%
- £35,000 - £40,000 - 80%
- £40,000 - £45,000 - 70%
- £45,000 - £50,000 - 60%
- £50,000 - £55,000 - 50%
- £55,000 - £60,000 - 30%
- £60,000 - £65,000 - 20%
- £65,000 - £70,000 - 10%
This approach allows us to be both fair and sustainable, supporting those who need help most, while ensuring that families who can afford to pay contribute accordingly.
Discretionary Bursary:
If you would like to be considered for a bursary and you do not meet the outlined criteria, or you wish to apply for additional support, please complete the bursary application form and provide as much detail about your circumstances.
For example, you may:
- Have more than one child taking part in NYOS programmes
- Be facing extenuating personal circumstances
- Be a young person who is self-funding your fees without support from your family
Please contact us if you would like this information in a different format at info@nyos.co.uk.
Bursary application forms are sent with offer letters. There is no need to submit anything before you apply.
Self-Funding Participants:
If you describe yourself as self-funding, we will ask you the following questions in order to understand your financial situation and determine whether a bursary is appropriate:
- Do you live at home during the holidays?
- Do you receive any financial support from your parents or guardians (e.g. rent or day-to-day living costs)?
- Do you receive any other financial awards or bursaries (e.g. from your conservatoire)?
- How do you currently fund your studies and living expenses?
We want to ensure that nobody misses out due to their financial circumstances, however our resources are limited and we have a responsibility to ensure that they are directed to those most in need.
Travel & Accommodation Support:
We are aware that getting to and from courses can also restrict those that may wish to engage with NYOS. Since 2024, NYOS has been offering support for travel and accommodation costs. This can include:
- Travel support to get to/from a residential course
- Travel and accommodation support for those participants in remote or rural areas
Details for this additional support will be included in offer letters.
For more information, please contact bursaries@nyos.co.uk
Verification and Auditing
In order to maintain the fairness and integrity of the NYOS Bursary Fund, we reserve the right to audit a small sample of applications each year. In these cases, we may request supporting evidence such as recent payslips, P60 forms, benefit award letters or other relevant documentation. Any such checks will be handled sensitively and in strict confidence.
Other Support:
Beyond the NYOS Bursary Fund, there are other organisations and charities you can apply to for support. We have created the following Guide to provide assistance on where else you might look for support including information on local authorities, trusts and foundations:
