The Christopher Meredith Foundation powers up Music Support
with new partnership
We are proud to announce a new 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, that will enable us to grow existing provisions and develop new programs to support music industry peers and their loved ones.
The partnership includes funding which will contribute towards three key areas across three years:
- Funding or part-funding qualifying beneficiaries to receive the treatment they need, including counselling, psychotherapy and residential addiction treatment.
- Developing Music Support’s ‘Safe Hub’ backstage at festivals, a space where artists and crew can take time out or speak to a Mental Health First Aid trained individual. Thanks to the partnership, the charity has already run Safe Hubs this summer at Splendour festival in Nottingham and Boomtown festival in Winchester.
- Developing complementary programs for families and friends (including colleagues) who are supporting loved ones struggling with problematic drinking, drug use or other addictions. This includes new online resources and a workshop developed by addiction experts with lived experience.
Addiction is a complex illness that not only affects the person who is dependent; it also has a profound impact on their loved ones.
While they play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones, family and friends can often be overlooked with very limited support available to help them navigate the journey and look after their own wellbeing.
Adfam research (2019) found that 1 in 10 people in Great Britain is currently dealing with a friend or family member’s drinking, drug taking or gambling.
Music Support was established in 2016 by veterans of the Music Industry with lived experience of mental ill-health and/or addiction as a personal and confidential support service provider that understood the specific needs and challenges that exist within the industry.
The new services for family and friends will commence in Autumn 2023 and roll out over the next twelve months.
The Christopher Meredith Foundation’s partnership with Music Support will make a long-lasting impact on our crucial efforts, continuing to grow this essential area of support for family and friends.
George Levers, Music Support’s Head of Service Development and Delivery said of the partnership, “We have dreamed of the opportunity to provide funding to our beneficiaries who would otherwise struggle to access addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment; an area currently publicly underfunded with stretched resources. Thanks to The Christopher Meredith Foundation this dream has come true. Not only that, but we are incredibly excited that we can now extend our reach to the family and friends of those in need”.
Sadie Meredith, CMF Trustee, commented, “We were hugely impressed with the culture and ethos which drives Eric, George and the whole team at Music Support. The addiction services they provide are life changing for their donors and we are delighted to be partnering with them to enable them to scale and widen their reach.”
Family and Friends Services include:
- Dedicated Family and Friends Helpline
- Online resources and content
- Family and Friends workshop focusing on addiction and co-dependency
- Family and Friends Befriending Program
Please stay tuned to our website and social media channels for details of our new family and friend’s services as they unfold.
For now, if you would like to express your interest in the service, please complete the form on this page.
About Music Support:
Music Support is a registered UK charity that helps peers who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction. Founded in 2016 by people from within the music industry, our team have all been impacted personally by these issues and seen friends, colleagues and heroes lose their careers, families and even their lives. Our core services include a confidential Helpline, managed by industry peers with lived experience, training in Mental Health First Aid and Addiction and Recovery Awareness to empower individuals to look after the wellbeing of their colleagues (and themselves), and ‘Safe Hubs’ backstage at festivals, providing a space for artists and crew to take time out and speak to Mental Health First Aid trained staff. Find out more about what we do here.
About The Christopher Meredith Foundation:
At the Christopher Meredith Foundation our aim is to partner with carefully selected, specialist charities and organisations within the music industry delivering critical services to those facing mental health challenges. Established in 2021 as a legacy and to honour the memory of Christopher, the CMF seeks to reflect Christopher’s unwavering commitment to, and belief in, the people within the music industry. As an Agent, Festival Director and much-loved member of the live music circuit, Christopher was driven to support the artists and music he cared so deeply about. The CMF acts as an enabler, providing funding to allow our partners to scale their operations and maximise the impact their services can deliver at an individual level. Removing stigmas around mental health and reaching people in crisis are at the forefront of our objectives, whilst helping to support a proactive industry wide culture which truly nurtures its talent and protects all the individuals within its eco systems.
For further information visit www.cmfoundation.co.uk