A female student, wearing glasses, laughing with some other students, resting her cello against her shoulder.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge: one gift, twice the impact

Wednesday 15 November 2023

The Royal College of Music is delighted to have been selected to take part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge for the 14th year.

As part of the UK’s biggest digital match funding campaign, donations to the RCM Scholarships Fund made through the Big Give portal will be doubled during this time. There has never been a better time to support our students

How to donate 

Supporters can make the most of this wonderful opportunity by donating via the RCM page on the Big Give website from 12pm on Tuesday 28 November until 12pm on Tuesday 5 December 2023. Your gift can help to unlock £60,000 of match funding!

You will only be able to double donations whilst the match funds last, so please donate as soon as possible after 12pm on Tuesday 28 November. 

Donate now

Please note: a clear message will be displayed to indicate when the Challenge starts and when your donation will be doubled. If you start the donation process before 12pm on 28 November, your donation will not be matched. You will be informed prior to making your donation whether your gift will be matched. 

Changing lives through scholarships 

This year, the campaign will run from midday on Tuesday 28 November, known as #GivingTuesday, until midday on Tuesday 5 December 2023. During this week, gifts from £1 to £25,000 made to the Royal College of Music will be matched up to a total of £60,000. 

Philanthropy has always played a central role in the Royal College of Musics history. The RCM remains committed to its founding principle: that those with talent should have the opportunity to study at the College, regardless of their background or means. Your kind support enables us to fulfil our mission, and it is only with your backing that the RCM will continue to thrive. 

In 2022, a record amount was raised through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. This year we are hoping to raise £120,000 to support even more young musicians through the RCM Scholarships Fund. 

This fund enables students from all over the world and from all backgrounds to access tuition provided by the very best professors, utilise unrivalled facilities, and take advantage of the exceptional opportunities offered by the RCM, rated global top institution for performing arts for a second year running (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023). 

Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed, the Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UKs biggest online match funding campaign, helping UK registered charities raise thousands of pounds for their causes. Since the Big Give was launched, it has raised over £247 million for charity projects. 

More information 

If you have any questions, or for further information, please contact Joe Harper, Development Manager (Philanthropy), at joe.harper@rcm.ac.uk

Every gift will truly make a difference and will go directly to supporting our students. Please help us to support our deserving young musicians this festive season by donating through the Big Give Christmas Challenge and encouraging others to support the Royal College of Music too.

This news item appears in the 2023 Autumn edition of Upbeat magazine.

Read the latest edition of Upbeat

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