During an ordinary Proms season, there is hardly a concert that is not followed by a collection for musical charities. On your way out of the Royal Albert Hall, you would meet the friendly collectors with their yellow buckets inviting you to make donations to the charities chosen for that season.

This year, the Proms will be without the usual live audience, which makes bucket collections somewhat difficult. Yet, the charities need your donations more than ever. This fundraising page gives you the opportunity to make a donation from the comfort of your own home.

In view of the current circumstances it seemed most appropriate this year that our support for Help Musicians should go to their COVID-19 Hardship Fund. Most musicians get most of their work on a freelance basis, which has almost entirely dried up. Many have found that they do not qualify for the government support schemes, so have had to apply for Universal Credit or other benefits which may still leave them in considerable financial difficulties.