Annual Report 2024/25

Live music is powerful. It is part of what makes us who we are. 2024/25 has been another year filled with thousands of hours of live music, sharing joy in hospitals, care homes, hospices and community spaces.

We see access to live music as a necessity, not a nicety. Last year, you helped us to continue to move one step closer to our vision – everyone should be able to access and experience the joy of live music. In 2024/25, we were able to reach over 47,000 patients, residents and service users.

View full report and accounts PDF

Welcome from our Chief Executive and Chair

When reflecting on the year and the live music experiences we have been part of, we were reminded that no two are ever the same. Our musicians take care to create personalised live music that is unique to the places and for the people experiencing it.

About us

We understand the importance and tangible benefits of embedding live music as a regular part of people’s health care plans and treatment.

We view access to live music as a necessity not a nicety. We know live music improves people’s quality of life through over 75 years of experience and stories, but we need to go further to achieve our longer-term ambitions. We see impact as an integral part of how we prove and improve our practice.

Outcomes

Our theory of change shows the ultimate impact we aim to create through how we work and what we do. The outcomes are the meaningful changes we aim to create through our work, each supported by specific ways to measure success.

Impact

We understand the importance and tangible benefits of embedding live music as a regular part of people’s health care plans and treatment.

Voice

Collectively we have a stronger and louder voice – we know our supporters, musicians, staff, trustees, and health and care professionals believe in our vision and mission. We are here to make that possible together.

Through greater awareness of live music, we can create stronger partnerships and ensure more people can access the creativity and joy of live music no matter their health and wellbeing.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA)

Accessibility is core to our vision; we are working towards a world where everyone can access and experience the joy of live music, irrespective of their health and wellbeing.

Music is universal; it transcends barriers, brings communities together and promotes social cohesion. We also see a focus on diversity as an opportunity to create an environment where we understand, recognise, value and respect differences to the benefit of everyone.

Recovery

Our strategy requires investment to reach our long-term ambition: for people in hospitals and care to enjoy a better quality of life and improved health outcomes. We need to recover and build sustainable income to move closer to our vision and ensure we don’t rely on one area of income.

Organisational capability

Integral to our success is the investment we are making in digital transformation. This involves replacing legacy databases with modern cloud-based systems, embedding new outsourced IT management, and optimising available technologies.

Our organisational capability is also about looking beyond the lifetime of our strategy, making sure we are progressing towards our vision and greater outcomes for all – such as our environmental responsibility.

Financial summary

Our income strategy continues to focus on recovery and diversification of funds to share live music with people who couldn’t otherwise experience it. We are raising funds against an increasingly difficult financial and fundraising landscape, but we continue to invest in diversification to allow us to achieve our strategic ambitions.

Thank you

All of the generous grants, donations and fundraising efforts from our amazing supporters and funders make our live music possible. We couldn’t do it without you — thank you for keeping the music playing.