Paragon Music Trust grants
Paragon Music Trust funds music performance and projects in the Bristol region, with grants normally up to £1,500 and Guarantee Against Loss support of £250 to £1,000.
Guidance last checked 22 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Paragon Music Trust supports the advancement of music performed by amateur or professional musicians resident in the Bristol region — the City of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset. It uses income from Leo Reid Baker's bequest to fund this work. Grants are normally up to £1,500, and it also offers Guarantees Against Loss, normally in the range of £250 to £1,000, for orchestral, choral, operatic and ensemble performances. It is particularly interested in supporting works that are less often performed or more ambitious repertoire than might normally be chosen, and music that inspires and involves young people in classical music. It does not fund popular music, individuals, organisations based outside its area of benefit, or overheads, ongoing costs or general activities, and does not usually support organisations with a high level of unrestricted reserves.
What they fund
Paragon Music Trust funds arts, culture, heritage and science, focused specifically on music performance.
Who and where
It supports people with disabilities, children and young people, older people and others across the Bristol region.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Paragon Music Trust says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“We are particularly interested in supporting a) Works that are less often performed and/or more ambitious repertoire than might normally be chosen b) Music that inspires and involves young people in classical music”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
Who they say they'll fund
“The advancement of music performed by amateur or professional musicians resident in any of the four unitary authorities in the Bristol region: City of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
What they say they won't fund
“We don't fund a) popular music b) individuals c) organisations whose base is outside our area of benefit d) overheads, on-going costs or general activities”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
“organisations with a high level of unrestricted reserves”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
Grant sizes they mention
“Grants are normally up to £1,500”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
“GALs are normally in the range of £250 to £1,000”
Source: paragonmusictrust.co.uk — Paragon Music Trust →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
With the annual income it receives from the investments of leo reid baker's bequest, the paragon music trust aims to encourage and celebrate music promoted and performed by amateurs and professionals, by offering financial support with guarantee against loss for orchestral, choral, operatic and ensemble performances…
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does Paragon Music Trust typically give?
Grants are normally up to £1,500. It also offers Guarantees Against Loss, normally in the range of £250 to £1,000, for orchestral, choral, operatic and ensemble performances.
What does it fund?
The advancement of music performed by amateur or professional musicians resident in the Bristol region. It is particularly interested in works that are less often performed or more ambitious repertoire, and music that inspires and involves young people in classical music.
Who can apply?
Musicians and organisations resident in one of the four unitary authorities in the Bristol region: the City of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset.
What won't it fund?
Popular music, individuals, organisations based outside its area of benefit, or overheads, ongoing costs or general activities. It does not usually support organisations with a high level of unrestricted reserves.
How do I apply?
Paragon Music Trust does not publish a step-by-step application process. Check the funder's own website (paragonmusictrust.co.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 280203) for current guidance, as processes can change.
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Paragon Music Trust.