Waves Music Therapy is an ambitious, fast growing, female-led charity. Founded in 2013, we exist to remove barriers to music therapy for all people with complex needs ensuring timely, accessible support for those who often fall through the gaps. We deliver clinical music therapy, inclusive music-making and creative health programmes across schools, hospitals, hospices and community settings, reaching over 1,500 children, young people and adults each year. Our team of 27 experienced practitioners use music as a powerful tool to support communication, emotional well-being and connection, particularly for those who struggle to engage with traditional services. Waves is trusted by the NHS, local authorities, schools and families and is proud to have been commissioned by NHS Sussex and featured by BBC Comic Relief and the Royal Society for Public Health as well as a workshop at 10 Downing Street! We champion equity, co-production and youth voice in everything we do.
Our Team
Victoria is the founder and CEO of Waves Music Therapy. She qualified in 2005 and spent the subsequent years working in South London and then Denver, Colorado. On returning to the UK and relocating to the south coast she was quickly made aware of the need for music therapy in the county and there being no formal service. She was also acutely aware that music therapy for many is prohibitively expensive and so, along with her friend and colleague Kirsten Halliday, established Waves as a CIC in 2013. The aim was to be a vehicle to raise funds to support anyone who seeks music therapy to be able to access sessions. In 2021 Waves became a charity and now supports over 1500 people per year and utilises the skills of around 20 therapists and practitioners across the South East. Victoria and the dedicated team are committed to continuing their mission that music therapy is accessible to all.
Ruth qualified as a music therapist in 1990 from Roehampton, following a degree in music from Nottingham University. She then worked for Autism East Midlands for 8 years before moving to Sussex. She has many years’ experience working with clients with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs, emotional and behavioural problems and attachment issues. She works with people of all ages, but has most experience working with children and young people aged 0-18.
Ruth is our finance manager, a whizz with detail and figures and an indispensable member of the Waves Leadership team.
Ruth is our finance manager, a whizz with detail and figures and an indispensable member of the Waves Leadership team.
After graduating in 1999, Hazel Child qualified in both music teaching and music therapy before spending 8 years working in a secondary school for young people with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
She has since widened her scope to include adult mental health, in particular the challenges arising due to dementia. She now works in a range of settings, including mainstream schools, private and community care facilities, with all ages and abilities.
Hazel has since moved from the south coast but remains an integral part of the senior leadership team and runs online music therapy sessions for Waves. As clinical lead Hazel is on hand to advise and support our team.
She has since widened her scope to include adult mental health, in particular the challenges arising due to dementia. She now works in a range of settings, including mainstream schools, private and community care facilities, with all ages and abilities.
Hazel has since moved from the south coast but remains an integral part of the senior leadership team and runs online music therapy sessions for Waves. As clinical lead Hazel is on hand to advise and support our team.
Recently retired from just about everything, I am now delighted to be working with Waves. I bring with me many, many years of experience forged in retail and service industries, HR and training, and latterly, education . Waves provides me the perfect organisation and voluntary position, combining my love of music with my faith in therapy. When I do find time to relax, you’ll find me yomping the muddy fields near home or singing 2nd Sop with my local choir.
With a background in leading customer service operations and as a previous owner/director of medical clinics, Colette wanted to put her knowledge, skills and time into working with a charity. Waves represented the ideal opportunity to not only support an amazing cause, but to help create a sustainable future at a time of significant growth for the charity.
After completing a degree in music, Anna graduated from Nordoff Robbins in 2011. Since qualifying Anna has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities, young children in both mainstream and specialist settings, and older adults with Dementia. Anna is passionate about using music to reach young children and people with complex needs, and believes that music is a powerful tool for communicating.
James qualified as a music therapist in 2017 from Cambridge,and now works across several settings in East and West Sussex for Waves. He has recently developed a post at Red Balloon Education centre in Worthing and continues to hold a post at a specialist school in Bexhill where clients include non-verbal adolescents with learning disabilities and autism. His previous experience also includes working on an acute adult psychiatric ward, where clients have a wide range of mental health difficulties.
Kitty graduated from Roehampton 2023 and is now based in Brighton. She has experience working in both primary and secondary schools within mainstream settings as well as special educational needs. Kitty has a particular interest in meditative music including guided imagery and the use of Tibetan instruments to create a soothing environment; this is particularly helpful for people dealing with trauma and/ or needing emotional support. Kitty is keen to work with a diverse client base and able to tailor music therapy to each individual.
Cathy is a recently qualified music therapist (MA Music Therapy, Roehampton University). She has extensive experience supporting children and young people in both mainstream and SEN environments. Alongside her clinical work, Cathy is an experienced songwriter in EDM and acoustic music, bringing creativity, sensitivity, and a deep understanding of musical expression into her psychodynamic music therapy practice. A multi-instrumentalist on piano, guitar, voice, and percussion, she is passionate about the ways music can foster connection and communication where perhaps words may not.
Anna qualified as a music therapist in 2017, and has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities and adults living with cancer. Anna is passionate about encouraging schools to explore improvisatory music making opportunities as a means of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people; she believes that all children should have the opportunity to raise their voice, to feel heard and to celebrate their creativity and ability through music making.
Orla graduated from Anglia in 2022. Her experience includes working with children in hospitals, mainstream and SEN schools, adults with dementia, adults with learning difficulties and children with physical, medical, sensory needs, and associated learning difficulties.
Orla has a particular interest in using songwriting as an intervention in sessions to support self-expression, build self-esteem, and boost confidence.
She feels very passionate about making music accessible to everyone.
Orla has a particular interest in using songwriting as an intervention in sessions to support self-expression, build self-esteem, and boost confidence.
She feels very passionate about making music accessible to everyone.
Lizzy is passionate about working with children, young people and their families whilst utilising the creative arts to support a holistic approach to care. She has experience working with children with differing emotional and behavioural needs and is currently working at an SEN school for children with complex needs and disabilities. Whilst training, she became interested in the use of symbolic play in Music Therapy and how this can be utilised to support children with developmental trauma. This became the focus of her MA research.
Emma qualified as a music therapist in 2025, graduating from the University of Roehampton. Prior to training, she did a music degree and worked with children and adults in a variety of musical settings. Emma’s music therapy experience includes work with children and teenagers with social, emotional and mental health needs, and work with older adults experiencing acute mental illness. Emma has a particular interest in co-producing music therapy, which formed the basis of her MA research project, and she enjoys exploring a wide range of instruments and musical styles with her clients.
Dominique is a composer & songwriter with a background in performance who studied Music Therapy at Nordoff Robbins in 2014. She enjoys running several choirs including Singing for the Brain with The Alzheimer’s Society and has 8 years’ experience as a music tutor and practitioner within FE, along with her own private practice. She now divides her time between St. Magnus Hospital in Haslemere working within forensics and composing albums in her Worthing studio
Simi qualified as a Music Therapist from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2015 and her clinical work is focused on children and young people with communication difficulties, autism and developmental trauma. Simi is the music therapist at Oak Grove school where she works with young people with complex needs and at a mainstream primary offering group and individual work. Simi has also worked as musician in her local community throughout her career. She is an experienced teacher, pianist and vocalist.
Lori graduated from Roehampton University with MA in Music Therapy in June 2018. Prior to this Lori completed an undergraduate degree at BIMM, receiving a BA Hons in Professional Musicianship in Vocals. Lori’s first instrument is voice, followed by piano and ukulele.
Lori has experience working within SEND, adult mental health, elderly and dementia settings. She is passionate about developing work where it is needed and works closely with the Waves team to support those in need.
Lori has experience working within SEND, adult mental health, elderly and dementia settings. She is passionate about developing work where it is needed and works closely with the Waves team to support those in need.
Louie is a Rapper, Performer and Practitioner, who adopts several forms of creative writing: spoken word, script writing, poetry and lyric writing, which all serve his artistic output and identity. He also directs music videos and staged performances. Louie trained at The Guildhall and works with Waves delivering spoken word and rap workshops with our therapists, reaching vulnerable children and young people and engaging them in powerful music making.
Ania qualified as a music therapist in her home country of Poland and has since worked in forensic settings and with dementia patients in an in-patient service. She currently runs the music therapy provision at a home in Havant in collaboration with Mencap, for adults with learning difficulties.
Ed is a freestyle rap artist and youth worker who worked with Waves during their visit to Downing Street, wowing the team at No.10 with his workshop and freestyle rap skills. You can follow Ed on Instagram on the Gramskionthemic handle, or contact Waves about workshops with Ed.
Mike is a very experienced music practitioner with a strong track record of delivering powerful and engaging workshops for those with profound and complex needs. Mike joins us for the Immersive Music Project, funded by Worthing CIL, which has already expanded from a 9 week programme to become part of the school curriculum at Oak Grove College, citing the workshop’s power to connect with and give voice to their students with the most complex needs.
After a successful career in marketing and in teaching, Gabrielle completed her MA in Music Therapy at Roehampton University. Gabrielle has experience of working with children and adults with a variety of needs including learning disabilities, PMLD, mental health and life-limiting conditions. During training Gabrielle worked in a children’s hospice and became particularly interested in the role of music therapy within palliative care, completing her MA research in this area.
Kerry joins us as our first Art Therapist at Waves Music Therapy. Kerry has over 25 years of experience working with children, young people and families within a
variety of education settings, CAMHs teams, activity groups and residential care. Kerry recognises that we don’t always have the words to attach to our feelings and encourages people to explore their life experiences through engaging with creativity and art materials. There is no need to be good at art – simply a willingness to explore.
variety of education settings, CAMHs teams, activity groups and residential care. Kerry recognises that we don’t always have the words to attach to our feelings and encourages people to explore their life experiences through engaging with creativity and art materials. There is no need to be good at art – simply a willingness to explore.
Kirsten works in London with adolescents with emotional and behavioural difficulties. She helped to establish Waves Music Therapy in 2013 and is still involved in a consultancy role.
Our Trustees
Jessica has a PhD in Musicology from the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2019 with a thesis titled The Women Musicians of South Place Ethical Society, 1887 – 1927. Subsequently, Jessica has worked with the BBC Philharmonic, The British Academy and on EU-funded research projects. Jessica now works as a Research Manager at the University of Sussex and has experience in leading work in equality, diversity and inclusion.
Chimmy is director of Pre-Sales at Jaid and brings her corporate experience and knowledge of CSR to develop partnerships for Waves. Chimmy is a champion of inclusion and diversity, she feels Waves offers the perfect blend of her interests in Music and Mental Health
Emma started her career in the music industry before moving over to work for large charitable organisations, she brings fundraising expertise in community fundraising, special events, mass participation & corporate fundraising. As someone who plays instruments & has a genuine love of music, & an interest in psychology, Emma can completely understand how the work that Waves does is vital & needs to be available, without barriers, to anyone who needs it
Adil is a highly experienced finance professional with a proven track record in strategic financial management and business transformation. As a Trustee for Waves Music Therapy, he brings his extensive expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and compliance to support the charity’s mission. His strong analytical skills and strategic thinking ensure that Waves Music Therapy can navigate financial challenges effectively while maximising resources for therapeutic programs. His commitment is to drive excellence and to provide insightful financial guidance to the board, helping to drive the charity’s growth and impact in the community.
Julian brings clinical experience from his time as a music therapist in palliative care and neuro-disability, including doctoral research with Aalborg University in the use of music therapy for low awareness states. More recently as a programme manager in the NHS he has been helping bridge the gap between innovation and practice woking closely with innovators and commissioners. Having worked across the NHS, academia, social enterprises and the voluntary sector, he understands from all sides the challenges of engaging with the complex systems that fund music therapy and arts practioner services, and how best to develop value propositions that engage decision makers. He is a keen musician, allotment fanatic and new convert to mountain biking.
Matthew spent the 20th Century growing up, and working in advertising, where he reached senior international positions in management and strategic planning for various multinational agencies.
In the 21st century he grew up again and he left advertising to acquire, with his wife, Mundy Cruising, the oldest and the leading UK company in its field. He has also been a magistrate for most of this time.
He has no formal music qualification (unless an average O Level counts), but he has a history as a performer and has always believed passionately in music as being not merely a passive pleasure but also a powerful force for positive change, and so he was delighted to be invited to join the Waves Board.
In the 21st century he grew up again and he left advertising to acquire, with his wife, Mundy Cruising, the oldest and the leading UK company in its field. He has also been a magistrate for most of this time.
He has no formal music qualification (unless an average O Level counts), but he has a history as a performer and has always believed passionately in music as being not merely a passive pleasure but also a powerful force for positive change, and so he was delighted to be invited to join the Waves Board.
Our Patrons
Olly is a singer songwriter from West Sussex who has achieved critical acclaim for his work. Olly tours widely, collaborates with world famous artists and believes strongly in the healing power of music making.