What are the Charles Barratt Awards?
What is the Charles Barratt Fund?
Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation incorporating the Mary Palmer Award Registered Charity No.503108
The Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation was established in memory of Sir Charles Barratt, who was Town Clerk of the City of Coventry from 1946 until his retirement in 1966.
In 1973 the City Council welcomed the suggestion that his memory be honoured most fittingly by the establishment of a Music Scholarship and, to this end donated the sum of £5,000 to a Trust to be set up formally to promote the Scholarship. Further donations have since increased the funds of the Trust. The interest received from the investment of the Trust Funds is used to make awards to young persons resident in Coventry for the purpose of extending their musical education.
The Foundation is administered by a Committee, the membership of which consists of interested lay members, representatives of the City Council, Coventry Music Service and an independent music expert.
By means of a Committee established under the Foundation, awards are available for Coventry-based students of school age requiring tuition in any kind of practical music, both instrumental and vocal. The awards will be to especially talented persons who at the time of application are residing in the City of Coventry or receiving full-time education at a school or college in Coventry. The Committee making the awards will have particular, but not exclusive regard to applicants who are under 18 years of age.
In addition, Mary Palmer left funds to specifically help young cellists in a similar way. This fund is now administered by the Sir Charles Barratt Trustees and the Mary Palmer Award is made to deserving young cellists.
Who was Charles Barratt?
Sir Charles Barratt was Town Clerk of Coventry from 1946 until his retirement in 1969
His untimely death less than a year after his retirement robbed the city of a most distinguished public servant.
Sir Charles' appointment as Town Clerk brought with it the leadership of a team of officers responsible for implementing the City Council's plans for the redevelopment of the city, which attracted world-wide interest for its pioneering in town planning.
He was greatly respected nationally for this far-reaching ideas on the reform of local government, which led to his appointment to national and local committees too numerous to mention.
His contribution to local government was acknowledged in 1966 by the conferment of a knighthood. Typically, the regarded this as much a tribute to the City and to local government as to himself.
One of his greatest interests was the Coventry School of Music, which he supported from its foundation in 1947 and of which he became President in 1964. Despite all his other commitments, he maintained this interest throughout his life. He was proud of the fact that the school came to play an important part in the cultural life of the city and was eventually taken under the wing of the local authority. This then became known as Coventry Performing Arts Service and now Coventry Music.
Download an information sheet [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/downloads/file/110/charles-barratt-information-sheet-2024] and covering letter [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/downloads/file/109/charles-barratt-covering-letter-2024]
Applications for 2025-26 open soon. Closing date for 2025/26 is 28th April 2025.
Decisions will be made in May/June and successful candidates will be informed in June/July.
Application Forms and Documents
Please note all applicants must complete and return all 3 forms to Coventry Music to be considered for an award. One form needs to be completed by a parent or carer, one by your instrumental or vocal music tutor who currently gives you lessons, and one by a music teacher at school to show your involvement in wider musical activities. If you cannot obtain a school reference, please contact us.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM UNLESS YOU ARE UNABLE TO DO SO.
Downloadable copies can be emailed to music@coventry.gov.uk. Online forms will be sent automatically to Coventry Music.
Applications for 2025-26 open soon. Closing date for 2025/26 is 28th April 2025.
Decisions will be made in May/June and successful candidates will be informed in June/July.
ONLINE FORMS:
Online Parent Application Form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Coventry_Music___Charles_Barratt_parent_application_form] Online Tutor Application Form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Coventry_Music___Charles_Barratt_tutor_application_form] Online School Application Form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Coventry_Music___Charles_Barratt_tutor_application_form]
DOWNLOADABLE/PRINTABLE FORMS:
Parent Application Form [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/downloads/file/111/charles-barratt-parent-and-carer-application-form-download-] Tutor Application Form [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/downloads/file/112/charles-barratt-tutor-application-form-download-] School Music Teacher Application Form [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/downloads/file/130/charles-barratt-music-teacher-school-application-form-download-]
(please note when completing the online school or tutor application form - you must select if you are a individual music tutor or school music teacher/tutor before proceeding with the form, where you will be given a different set of questions)
Terms and Conditions
Value and Tenure of the Awards
The Committee has the authority to assist successful applicants and has absolute discretion both in relation to the amount to be awarded and the timing of the award within the year.
The Award will normally be offered on an annual basis and will, at the discretion of the Committee, be renewable annually, provided the terms of the original award and the new application are fulfilled, and subject to satisfactory progress reports.
The Award will not be withdrawn or reduced by the Committee without such notice as the Committee deems appropriate, being given.
General Conditions
Awards are available for Coventry-based students of school age requiring tuition in any kind of practical music, both instrumental and vocal.
The awards will given be to especially talented persons who at the time of application are residing in the City of Coventry or receiving full-time education at a school or college in Coventry, or being home educated at an address in Coventry.
This award can be used for anything in relation to Music Education, Groups, Tuition, Exam fees etc.
Please note instrument purchase are not funded by the grant (except in exceptional circumstances.)
The cost of tuition through Coventry Music for the 2025/2026 academic year is £43 per hour, therefore a 30 minute individual lesson would be £709.50 for the school year (33 weeks) or a 20 minute lesson would be £473.
Instrument hire through Coventry Music is £100 per year or free for those who have provision with us.
The applications, will be assessed as required by the Committee. The ultimate decisions regarding awards, will be made by the Committee, whose decision will be final.
The awards will normally be made in respect of an approved course of study under an approved tutor or for help with the payment for exams or qualifications.
The Committee will expect applicants to have regular attendance and membership of a Coventry Music ensemble or School based group or ensemble, and to attend regular instrumental or vocal lessons.
Payment in respect of these scholarships will normally be made annually in advance by the Trustees of the Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation but in certain circumstances lump sum payments may be made where this more appropriately meets the needs of the successful applicant. The Committee may, at any time, waive or amend any or all of the foregoing conditions or regulations at their absolute discretion.
Applications for 2025-26 open soon. Closing date for 2025/26 is 28th April 2025.
Decisions will be made in May/June and successful candidates will be informed in June/July.
FAQ's
Why do i need to complete 3 different forms?
Charles Barratt Awards are awarded for the purpose of extending and supporting the musical education of the children in Coventry. They are offered to current musical students who wish to further their development and funding would create a barrier to this.
Therefore it is important when making a decision that applicants provide as much information as possible to support their application
What happens if i cannot complete/submit all 3 forms?
If you are having problems completing any of the forms, please get in touch with us at music@coventry.gov.uk. Where possible we will help to complete the applications. Applicants who do not complete all 3 forms without informing us are unlikely to be considered for an award. Applicants who have informed us will still be considered for an award, however, missing information could mean you may not be successful.
What if i am homeschooled?
For pupils who are homeschooled in Coventry, the person providing the music curriculum for the applicant should complete the school application form, even if this is the same as the parent/carer.
What if i have more than one child who would like to apply?
Awards are made on an individual basis, therefore there is no cap on the number of applications i family can make. Each applicant will need all three forms to be completed to be considered for an award.
What if my child does not participate in school activities?
It is expected that any applicant who wishes to apply for funding would be an active musician and would be regularly taking part in music activities. Please contact us if you have difficulties finding someone to complete the school form.
What if my child does not have music lessons currently?
The award is offered to established players to support their further development, therefore all applicants should already be having vocal or instrumental lessons with a music tutor. The award is not awarded to beginners, except in exceptional circumstances.