Liverpool Philharmonic to receive Paul Hamlyn Foundation endowment

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (RLPO) has announced it has received a major gift from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The gift includes a £3.5 million endowment and £500,000 grant which will be used over 5 years to expand the reach of Liverpool Philharmonic’s In Harmony Youth Hubs.

Investment gains from the £3.5 million endowment will be used to support RLPO’s engagement work with young people, while the grant funding will bring the organisation’s In Harmony work to more local young people.

Liverpool Philharmonic chief executive Michael Eakin said: ‘This gift is recognition of the work we have done for the past 15 years, and a real vote of confidence in our organisation from one of the leading foundations supporting work in the arts to effect social change and to ensure young people, can realise their full potential. In particular we are committed to engaging young people in music making and developing their creative talent, providing opportunities where they might not otherwise exist. The Paul Hamlyn Foundation gift will help us to continue to deliver and to build the impact of this work for the long term.’

The gift, which is the largest single gift ever received in the organisation’s 184-year history, builds on the RLPO’s long-standing relationship with the Foundation which has seen it support the In Harmony project since it established the first In Harmony Youth Hubs in 2022. The initiative supports 1,790 children and young people with free music lessons every week.