KEY INFORMATION

• Applications for the first round of the Fund are now open, and will close on April 30th 2021 at midday.

• Applications for the second round of the Fund will open on May 22nd 2021 and close on June 4th 2021.

• You are able to apply for both rounds of the Fund, regardless of whether you are awarded a grant in Round One.

• If eligible, applicants will be considered for a grant of £500. This can be used towards living costs, existing debts, and costs involved with being able to get back to live performance.

• This Fund is open to all those who work in live comedy, including comedians, promoters, producers, stage managers, technicians and off-stage creatives including directors, designers, and photographers.

• This is a hardship grant, designed to keep people in the industry who would otherwise need to leave before they can get back to work. Because of this, even if you’re eligible you may not receive the grant, with the Fund targeting those who are most in need.

• If awarded a grant, the individual will be responsible for any tax due.

Please make sure you have read all information on this page before you apply.

All information provided with your application is confidential and is only received by NextUp, who are administering the Fund.

Eligibility

To be considered for a grant of £500 from the #SaveLiveComedy Fund, you must:

• Be in urgent need of financial assistance as a result of the pandemic.

• Be a UK resident with a UK bank account.

• Be a live comedy professional – before the pandemic, you made the majority (over 50%) of your annual income from comedy, as a performer or from working off-stage in the industry.

• Be currently registered as self-employed, unemployed, or the sole director of a company or other organisation that has been ineligible for all existing government support.

• Currently have less than £2,000 in savings (note: this does not include any money set aside for your tax bill)

• Not have received any more than £5,000 in support from other emergency industry support schemes (this does not include SEISS or furlough payment, but does include schemes such as the Theatre Artists Fund, NextUp’s HeckleTheVirus, Creative Scotland’s Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers, and Angel Comedy’s micro bursary fund)

• Not be in full-time education

• Have sought all possible government financial support available to you (e.g. SEISS, CJRS, and/or Universal Credit)

• Have reduced your personal expenditure wherever possible over this period.

The eligibility criteria may be amended for Round Two of the Fund.

Proof Required

During your application, you will need to provide proof of your current financial situation and your career in the industry. All data shared as part of your application will only be shared with NextUp Comedy and only accessed by those assessing the Fund’s applications.

Current Financial Position

You will be asked to provide details of your current financial position in relation to the above eligibility criteria. You’ll need to upload one of the following, which must clearly show your name & address:

• A recent bank statement (from within the last six months)

• A government email showing you being declined for SEISS, JCRS, or Universal Credit.

We will ask you what support you have received since March 2020. This will include government support as well as support from other existing industry support funds and any paid work you have been able to undertake during this period. We ask this so that the Fund can assess your level of hardship and target those most in need.

Your Career

You will be asked to provide details of at least five gigs, tour dates, jobs or contracts where you were booked to performer or work at between March 2019 and March 2020. These must be paid roles.

Proof of booking/engagement will be required. This can be supplied in any of the following forms:

• A contract (which states dates of work & fees)

• Proof of booking (e.g. an email)

• A clip from a performance

You will also need to provide details of two referees in the industry who can be contacted if required.

If you have questions regarding the eligibility criteria or the application process, you can contact the team here.

If you have access requirements and require this information or the application form in another format, please contact us.