Nominate Someone in Your Community for a Small Grant:

Do you know someone in your community who could use a helping hand?

TPO singers and musicians can now nominate individuals to receive a small grant of £50–£500. These grants are made possible by ticket sales from the TPO Community Lottery and the fundraising efforts of our members.

Each term, there will be a 2-week window when nominations are open. As soon as the nomination period begins, fundraising to grow the community grant pot will also get underway. The more tickets we sell, the more fundraising we do, the more people we can help.

Who Can Be Nominated?

• Anyone in the local community surrounding one of our orchestras or choirs can be put forward for a grant— friends, neighbours, and community members from any walk of life.
• Nominations must come from a current The People’s Orchestra singer or instrumentalists.
• Only individuals are eligible for nomination; we cannot accept nominations for organisations or groups.

Where Does the Funding Pot Come From?

The funding pot is grown from two main sources:

• Sales of TPO Community Lottery tickets
• Additional fundraising by our singers and instrumentalists

The bigger the pot the more people we can help and the larger the grants can be. Each grant will be between £50 and £500, and recipients should aim to use the funds within 6 months.

How Do I Nominate Someone?

It’s simple! Just complete a quick online nomination form with the following:

• The name and contact details of the person you’d like to nominate
• A brief explanation (a few sentences or a short story) describing why this person needs support and how the grant will make a difference
• The amount you are requesting (between £50 and £500)
• Confirmation that the nominee is happy to have their details shared with the TPO grants team (we respect privacy at all times—details are only viewed by our small review panel)
• If awarded, nominees must be able to provide a testimonial and image after their grant period, to help us celebrate the impact of the TPO Lottery in our communities

What Happens Next? Our Process:

• All nominations are reviewed monthly by a small panel of TPO team members
• We prioritise cases with a clear community benefit and make sure grants are shared fairly across different areas
• Decisions are made quickly—usually within 6 weeks of the nomination deadline

What Will Successful Nominees Receive?

• The grant amount (between £50 and £500), sent directly—either as a voucher, a bank transfer, or goods, depending on what’s most helpful
• A thank-you message recognising the positive role of the TPO Lottery and our supportive community

We’re proud to make a difference, one nomination at a time. If you know someone who could benefit, please consider putting their name forward in the next round.

What Is the Purpose of the Grant?

We want to provide meaningful, practical support. Grants can help with things such as:

• Everyday Support & Cost of Living Help –little help with everyday things—like food, heating, clothes, or paying bills. For example: Paying for weekly food shop vouchers, a warm winter coat, help with heating bills, or a one-off contribution for essentials like a mattress or bedding.​

• Health, Disability & Mental Wellbeing Support – facing an illness, disability, or mental health challenge and needs support. For example: Funding a mobility aid, transport to medical appointments, counselling session fees, or joining an accessible fitness class.​

• Crisis Response & Emergency Help –  someone who needs help during a difficult or emergency situation. For example: Covering emergency accommodation for a night, a supermarket voucher after a house fire, a replacement phone for someone fleeing domestic violence, or urgent travel costs to visit a loved one in hospital.​

• Community Inclusion & Belonging – someone who just wants to feel part of a community, welcomed and included. For example: Paying choir or group membership fees, tickets to a community event, materials for an art or craft session, or transport to a social group or choir rehearsal.​

• Personal Experience or Tribute-Inspired Action – someone who has turned their own personal challenge into something positive for others. For example: Funding the printing of leaflets to raise awareness, running a tribute activity like a memorial walk, buying equipment for a small support group, or covering the cost of refreshments for a peer-led get‑together.​