Associate Newsletter – June 2026
Friday June 19th 2026
| GSW MUSIC HUB — ASSOCIATE NEWSLETTER
June Update 2026 News, funding guidance, and opportunities for our Associate community |
Funding Update — Academic Year 2026/27
| Arts Council England |
Arts Council England has confirmed the DfE funding agreement for the 2026/27 academic year. While the overall settlement remains at the same level as this year, we are pleased to be able to maintain stability in what continues to be a challenging financial landscape for the sector.
We are still awaiting the announcement of the local area formula, and once confirmed we will be in touch with further details. In the meantime, all bursary and grant-for-schools allocations will remain consistent with the current academic year, giving you certainty to plan ahead.
| ℹ We will share the local area formula details as soon as they are available. No action needed from you right now. |
Associate Funding Guide — Now Available
| Funding |
The updated Annual Funding Guide is now live in the Associate log-in section of the website. It covers everything you need to know about available grants and how to make the most of the support on offer.
A useful reminder about Grant C: it can be used for CPD courses not offered through the Music Hub — and we’re pleased to share that one successful application has just been approved in this category. Grant C can also support collaborative projects with schools; in those cases, the Associate completes the application, which helpfully removes an extra admin step for the school.
| 💡 Tip: Before applying for a collaborative school project, we recommend checking in with the main office to confirm the project type and scope — this will save you time and make your application as strong as possible. |
Questions? Contact your Associate Coordinator in the first instance — they’ll refer you to the main office if needed.
Welcoming Our New Associate Coordinators
| Team Update |
We are delighted to welcome three newly appointed Associate Coordinators to the GSW Music Hub family! Their role is to strengthen the connection between individual Associates and the Hub, ensuring you feel heard, supported, and part of our wider eco-family.
Your coordinator is your first point of contact for questions and support. Larger Associate Organisations continue to work directly with the main office.
| Coordinator 1
Sophie Barford – North Wiltshire |
Coordinator 2
Kirsty Fowler – Central Wiltshire |
Coordinator 3
Dan Coggins – South Wiltshire |
Annual Data Returns — Deadline Reminder
| Action Required |
Please don’t forget to submit your annual data return covering academic year 2025/26. Your Associate Coordinator is on hand to help if you have any questions or need support with the submission.
| 30 July 2026 | Deadline for annual data return (Academic Year 2025/26) |
From the Reps
| Community |
| Associates Online Drop-in — 9 July, 6–7pm
A relaxed, informal online session to connect, share ideas and find out what’s happening across GSW Music Hub. No agenda, no obligation to stay the full hour — just drop in when it suits you. |
Associates Feedback Survey
Help shape future Associate support, CPD, and networking opportunities. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey — your input makes a real difference.
GSW Music Hub • Associate Newsletter • Summer 2026