Thanks to funding from The Christopher Meredith Foundation we are proud to offer a number of FREE places to attend Music Support’s ‘The Ripple Effect’ Workshop.

This interactive four-hour session, delivered on Zoom, is for the family and friends of people who work in the UK music industry who are struggling with addiction, with the aim of empowering you to support the person you care about. The workshop will give you an overview of addiction and its consequences for everyone involved, how you can help, and how to use self care and boundaries to become more resilient and able to navigate the relationship.

It’s important to note that when we use the term ‘family’ we don’t just mean immediate family, but also touring family, extended family, colleagues and friends. Everyone is impacted by addiction, and we can all make changes, big and small, that will help end the ripple effect.

Please note you do not need to work in the industry yourself to attend the workshop, you just need to be supporting someone who does.

YOU WILL FIND DATES AND DETAILS OF HOW TO APPLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

Family and Friends Workshop Information

This four-hour workshop will give you an introduction to the topic of addiction, recovery and support.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Understand addiction, its consequences and the cycle of change that happens as a person goes through addiction towards recovery

Understand what you can do to provide support to the person in a way that will motivate them and enhance the changes they want to make

Develop and use boundaries that will keep both you and the person in addiction safe

Practise better self care, with the understanding that helping yourself will also enhance the support you can offer the person in addiction

Consider the importance of building and nurturing supportive relationships that will sustain and build resilience

What to expect

Learning takes place in group context online or in person.

The session will be a mix of mini-lectures, group discussion, and case-studies facilitated by an experienced group facilitator.

We limit numbers to 12 people per course so that the instructor can keep people safe and supported while they learn.

Session aims and objectives

By attending the session you will:

Understand addiction and its impact on those in a relationship with someone in addiction, whether that’s a romantic relationship, a familial relationship, a friendship or a relationship with a colleague

Learn about the cycle of change, consider where the person is in the cycle, and how this will inform how you support them

Consider your own family dynamics and culture, and how it might effect how addiction is viewed and treated

Understand and discuss co-dependency, what this might look like in a relationship where one person is in addiction, and what can be done to move away from co-dependency if necessary

Learn about the drama triangle – a way of understanding how we relate to others when there is drama, or conflict, and how we can move away from our automatic responses to get out of it

Discuss boundaries, why they are important in relationships, especially when addiction is present, and consider appropriate boundaries to put in place

Understand self care and how it can build resilience and better mental health

Understand the dangers of stigma and isolation and how we can create networks that will support us

Everyone who completes the course will receive:

A manual and workbook to refer to whenever you need it (pdf content)

A certificate of attendance to say you have completed the Ripple Effect Family and Friends Workshop with Music Support.

Who is the workshop for?

Family members or friends (including colleagues) of someone working in the UK music industry struggling with addiction. Please note you do not need to work in the industry yourself to attend the workshop, you just need to be supporting someone who does.

Workshop Dates

The workshop (delivered on Zoom) will be available from 10am – 2pm on the following dates:

Wednesday 25th September (fully booked), Friday 6th December 2024 and Friday 14th March 2025

(further dates TBA)

If you have any questions please contact learning@musicsupport.org

APPLY NOW

Music Support's George Levers Angell said of the course:

“We are delighted to offer this workshop as part of our Family and Friends Support Services. This would not have been possible without our partnership with the Christopher Meredith Foundation, (CMF), established in memory of Christopher, an Agent, Festival Director, and much-loved member of the live music circuit. ‘The Ripple Effect’ workshop is for anyone supporting colleagues or loved ones struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges within the UK music industry. We know that addiction and mental ill-health don’t just affect the individual but can have a severe impact on the wellbeing of the close bonds that surround them. By offering support holistically to the family and friends of those in need we can help sustain long-term recovery in the individual and their support system.”

Find out more about Music Support’s Family and Friends service and register your interest in our peer support here

Visit our Family and Friends Resources page here.

Thank you to The Christopher Meredith Foundation for supporting this important initiative. Find out more about our partnership with the Foundation here.