The Musicians' Benevolent Fund may be able to help out with cash and/or other kinds of support:

http://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/help_you/professionals/unable_to_work/how_we_help.aspx

(I just read a letter about them in the paper this evening, having looked at this thread just the other day - serendipity for sure as I'm a very infrequent visitor to Mudcat.)

Amanda