Help Musicians calls for donations after huge demand for latest COVID-19 support scheme

completemusicupdate.com:

Music charity Help Musicians has put out a call for new donations, after its second programme providing financial support for musicians affected by the COVID-19 shutdown has come close to running out of funds within days of being launched.

Applications for the £2.55 million fund opened on Friday and the charity had received over 3500 applications by Monday morning.Help Musicians launched an initial £5 million fund in March, offering £500 grants to musicians in need, which was exhausted within four weeks – despite donations from other music companies and organisations pushing the total amount available up to more than £8 million.The second phase of COVID-19 support was announced in May, with a smaller pool of cash and tighter restrictions on.