Remission of fees can be applied to all Suffolk County Music Service activities including (but not exclusively):
- County Music Groups (CMG) - 50% reduction
- Suffolk Youth Music (SYM) Ensembles - 50% reduction
- FamilyLink Lessons in Music Centres - 50% reduction
- Instrument hire - 100% reduction
- FamilyLink Lessons in Schools - 50% reduction.
Eligibility
Remissions can be applied to your SCMS fees if you are in full-time education in Suffolk, are aged up to 18 (Year 13) and meet one of the criteria from 1-7 listed below. SCMS will ask you to provide documentary evidence to support how you meet the remission criteria 1-7.
On receipt of appropriate evidence to support the following (points 1-7) SCMS will confirm remissions at 50%/100%.
1. Evidence of child in receipt of Targeted Free School Meals*
2. Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
3. Income related Employment and Support Allowance
4. Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
5. If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
6. Universal Credit, provided your annual annual household income is no more than £7500 (single adult household) or £15,000 (duel adult household) as shown on your Universal Credit Statements. Please ensure you provide full, electronic copies, of your last 3 months Universal Credit statements with your application.
7. Children in Care (CiC) and Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) will receive remissions for all SCMS activities at 100%.
8. Discretionary. We want to remove as many barriers as possible to young people in Suffolk accessing music-making and learning opportunities. If you feel you do not meet any of the above criteria but are still facing financial challenges, we will be happy to consider a 'discretionary' application.
*From September 2026 there are two types of Free School Meal (FSM) Status, only Targeted FSM entitles the above benefit, please visit Suffolk County Council Free School Meals Portal for details. Enhanced FSM is for school meals only.
