Help Musicians and CLIC Sargent are to be supported through online only donations being organised by this year’s audience-less BBC Proms.

Due to coronavirus social distancing measures preventing an audience attending, this year’s musical event will feature online-only collections.

Promenaders’ Musical Charities, the trust that runs charity collections at BBC Proms, is to focus donations on its two core charities, Help Musicians and CLIC Sargent.

The collections are being organised through digital fundraising platform JustGiving on two separate pages. The charity adds that cheques can still be sent.

The money donated to Help Musicians, will support its Covid-19 Hardship Fund to help musicians who have lost work due to the pandemic.

“Many have found that they do not qualify for the government support schemes, so have had to apply for Universal Credit or other benefits, which may still leave them in considerable financial difficulties,” said Promonaders’ Musical Charities.

Meanwhile money raised for heath charity CLIC Sargent, will be to fund its music therapy work with children with cancer and their families. This service was suspended in the early part of the pandemic and money raised will help it move it online, depending on restrictions within hospitals.

Pivoting fundraising online

The move to digital comes as the charity sector has had to pivot much of its face-to-face fundraising online amid the coronavirus.

A report released this week found that two thirds of charity leaders either lack or need to improve their digital skills. The Charity Digital Skills Report also found signs that charity boards are engaging more with digital, especially as the sector meets challenges presented by social distancing.

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