Launched in September 2020, the Stagehand Covid-19 Crew Relief Fund passed its target of £1m by the end of 2020 and is now looking to continue support for live events industry workers experiencing hardship through 2021.

Building on the £1.17m raised to date, a third round of grant applications will be open until 12pm on 12 February offering grants of £500 help crew facing financial crisis and experiencing food poverty.

Stagehand, the only UK charity that specifically helps music stage and road crew, has issued more than 900 grants, but there are many more workers in need of support with thousands facing serious hardship.

‘The response to this fundraising effort has been immense. Generous donations from the wider music industry and the public, the Prints for Music campaign, initiatives from peers, musicians and the #ILoveLive prize draw have not only made a practical difference to helping road and festival crews cope with huge challenges, but also offer a timely reminder that this plight is important to music fans throughout the world, reinforcing that this community is missed and appreciated,’ the organisation says.

Donations to the Covid-19 Crew Relief Fund have been received from PPL, BPI/BRIT Awards, Universal Music Group, Sony Music, The Co-Op, SJM Concerts, artists, artist managers and many individuals including some from anonymous donors.

Prints for Music, the photography sale created by Ed Robinson who, together with 39 other photographers, donated images depicting musical heroes throughout the ages. The campaign saw significant funds go towards the target.

Grass roots fundraising activity was also very important and included initiatives such as The Biggest Loser, headed up by Stagehand Trustee David Lawrence with supportive tour managers and production managers based in the UK, Europe and North America. The team trained for fitness and dropped the pounds, creating virtual and focused routine during lock down. Crew Gear clothing brandishes t-shirt slogans such as ‘Unviable’ was started by two members of tour supply company Adlib, splitting 20 per cent of profit between Stagehand and Music Support.

The Jam Night Before Christmas live session by the Subfrantic team pulled in funds in December 2020, while artists like Newton Faulkner and Kim Wilde have asked fans to donate during their own livestreamed gigs.

The #ILoveLive prize draw campaign gave music fans the chance to give something back to the people who make life-affirming live events happen and to win money-can’t-buy prizes from their favourite artists. #ILoveLive was held in partnership with Crowdfunder UK, which waived its platform fees. The winners have been notified and prizes shipped. A second #ILoveLive Crowdfunder Prize Draw Campaign will launch on 17 February and is already attracting significant artists.

The #ILoveLive campaign was spearheaded by artist manager and promoter David Stopps with Andy Lenthall and Mike Lowe at Stagehand.

‘We know that when live shows can take place again in financially viable ways, the industry will be extremely busy,’ says Mike Lowe, Chair of Stagehand’s Board of Trustees. ‘Artists, festivals and venues just want to get back to work and the public are hungry to see live entertainment again. No live show of any kind can happen without the skills and expertise of the army of live events workers. I am sure that the live events industry workers who we can help, will join me and my fellow trustees in expressing our massive appreciation for making all of this happen in the most difficult and unprecedented of times.’