Frequently Asked Questions

Primarily established, amateur music groups in Dorset and Somerset. There is some flexibility though and grants will be made to organisations that support amateur music groups.

Even though the main focus is intended to be on amateur music groups, festivals that offer benefits (e.g. performance opportunity) to local amateur musicians will be considered.

Cooperation between local music groups is to be encouraged. It will also give more bang for the buck.

It will probably be necessary for one group to take the lead when it comes to the application.

One of the big benefits of local amateur music groups is in bringing the community together. Raising money from the community can be a useful part of that process. So applications from groups also raising money from the community would be encouraged.

It would help but is not absolutely necessary. Somerset Community Foundation would need to be happy that suitable financial safeguards and safeguarding policies are in place.

Charitable registration does give some reassurance that projects are more sustainable. 

There are local and national groups that can help with the process. Please see the resource page. https://vickery.foundation/resources

The Vickery Fund is starting out small. In order to make as much effect as possible it is doubtful that regular grants to the same organisation will be made.

It would be nice to get some feedback in the form of some photo's/video and a short report on the project.

This will help with publicity but also help others see what type of grants are made.

• Groups that receive little (less than 20%) or no funding from local or national government and that run primarily on donated funds or self-generated funds 
• Groups mainly composed of amateur musicians
• Groups with 10 or more members

Grants are administered by Somerset Community Education. Please see the grant page for information. https://vickery.foundation/grants

The Vickery Fund has started out small so  there are no large grants available. For the moment at least £1000 is the upper limit. 

Other sources of grants are available and please also consider other fundraising efforts.

Somerset Community Foundation are pretty efficient. It will largely depend on what part of the grant making cycle they are in and if there are any funds available. Contact them for some idea. https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/contact/

Amateur music groups are worthwhile in and by themselves. In these difficult and fractured times it would be good to see grants going to projects that specifically aim to bring people together.

Those organisations receiving grants from the Vickery Fund should be open to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, or religion.

This is absolutely not a requirement but should you so choose  the donations page offers a donation link. 

Any donations will be used in the current year. https://vickery.foundation/donate

The funds will be allocated 50/50 between Somerset and Dorset - over time.

Amateur music groups are beneficial in and by themselves. It does not hurt though to be aware of how they can benefit the wider community and consider this in your application.

I come from a libertarian tradition and believe in the Tocqueville ideal of local, voluntary association. 

That we all have a moral and practical responsibility to our local community providing it is non-coercive.

Hence the desire to support voluntary, amateur groups that give to the local community.

With limited funds it is necessary to focus the fund.

I was brought up in Somerset and Dorset and have played with bands in both counties.

The reason that I have some wealth available to build the fund is because I made an investment in Bitcoin. 

Even 16 years after it's creation Bitcoin still scares people, I feel it useful to point out that all tools can be used for good as well as bad purposes.