As a former artist manager, Sam has a 20+ year background working directly with individuals andcreatives in the entertainment industry and as such has experienced first-hand the stresses of a this environment. In 2016, she co-founded Music Support – a charity for UK music industry people suffering from addiction and mental health issues, and with the Music Manager’s Forum, co-wrote the first mental health guide for artist managers. In 2018, Sam set up Parker Consulting and, inspired by Martha Kinn’s (Years & Years/MNEK) vision, created the award-winning mental health & wellbeing service for YMU Music artists, managers and staff – the first of its kind. Always open about her own mental health journey and recovery, Sam has been publicly involved in the ongoing duty of care in entertainment conversation and has made frequent media and panel appearances.
Matt is a music industry veteran of 30 years, with the ten most recent in the mental health and addictions fields. An EMCC Accredited Coach, also certified with Addiction Professionals, he is one of the most experienced and trusted practitioners in personal support for mental health and addiction recovery. A passionate campaigner and advocate for change, Matt is co-founder and Chair of Trustees of the charity Music Support, and a communications consultant to the charity Forward Trust, with special responsibilities for their ground-breaking Taking Action on Addiction campaign. Matt has consulted multiple TV and radio programmes such as The Archers, Emmerdale and Casualty on addiction-related storylines and scripts, as well as various documentaries including Channel 4’s recent Will Young: Losing My Twin Rupert. Matt is a highly experienced mediator and coach. and has worked with a diverse range of clients in the music, entertainment and sports industries, in many different situations.
Chula is a BACP, BAPAM, BAATN registered therapist who spent his former years as a musician, starting as a classically trained pianist and violinist, becoming a self-taught guitarist and drummer, and enjoyed a professional career in music during his 20’s. After coming into recovery, he worked 1:1 and in a group with over 1000 clients in community-based treatment, as a Drug & Alcohol Practitioner, before moving into Treatment Management, Training and Consultancy in 2010. He then qualified as a Counsellor & Psychotherapist in 2014 and alongside his private practice at 15 Harley Street, he provides clinical consultancy and supervision to Music Support, HMUK and the Centre for Social Justice. He also writes and presents on various platforms, lectures on the Addiction MSc at LSBU, and still finds time to play the drums for the Council of Neptune.
