The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund is an independent charity that supports current and retired staff of the Royal Opera House and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, including long-term staff of our partner contractors. They also assist other individuals or organisations involved in producing opera, ballet or music.
“Life in the creative sector can sometimes be uncertain, and our help ensures that people’s most urgent needs are met when difficult times come around.”
Support Available
There are several ways that the Fund may help individuals. This could include a monthly allowance in retirement, an interest-free loan to cover an unexpected expense, one-off support to help replace items such as household appliances or short-term assistance during periods of injury/illness. An annual visiting service is available to retired beneficiaries to ensure they have access to all the support available to them, and to maintain their connection with the Royal Opera House.
Examples of grants available to organisations include a confidential counselling service available to Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet staff and the subsided cost for Royal Opera House staff to receive osteopathy sessions in-house.
Accessing the Fund
The Fund can be accessed by past or present employees who have worked at the Royal Opera House or Birmingham Royal Ballet during their careers, including long-term staff of our partner contractors. It can provide limited assistance to current and former staff of organisations which give public performances of opera, ballet or music. In addition, the Fund can be accessed by spouses, widows, widowers, civil partners, partners, children, parents or dependants of any employees or former employees of the above.
The Fund also welcomes applications from other registered charities or organisations if a grant would either support the prevention or relief of poverty or advance the education or health of artistes and/or any others employed in the performance of opera, ballet or music.
There is no requirement to have contributed to the Fund to receive help.
Applying for the Fund
The Fund welcomes applications throughout the year. Every application is dealt with in the strictest confidence, and the Fund is happy to receive confidential approaches for help from friends or colleagues of a potential applicant.
To apply, please complete the application form along with the financial statement of income and expenditure. The Fund has its own guidelines agreed by the Trustees, and each application for support is measured against these.
Supporting the Fund
You can support the Fund by any of these means:
- Make a one-off or a regular donation
- Complete a Gift Aid declaration
- Leave a legacy in your will
For further information, please contact the Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund office at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
About the Benevolent Fund
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Registered Number: 1193337
The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund is an independent charity. It is not funded or managed by the Royal Opera House, but governed by Trustees, all of whom have relevant specialist knowledge and an interest in the Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet. It is administered from an office within the Royal Opera House by two part-time staff – a Secretary, and a Welfare and Administration Officer. They work closely with the ROH Occupational Health Advisor.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)