Story perspectives

Pay It Forward Fund Raises £272,000 for Tour Mental Health

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 10:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

MITC Launches Fund

Tamsin Embleton and the Music Industry Therapist Collective launched the Pay It Forward Fund for touring crews' mental health.
The fund received £272,000 to deliver 150 practitioner programmes over a three-year period.
It offers occupational health, mental-health education and pastoral-care services to artists and crew.
Applications are now open, and MITC provided therapy sessions during Radiohead’s recent tour.

Summary

Radiohead Begins Touring

Radiohead began touring, entering a new world of fame and heightened pressures.
After five to six years performing mostly in Oxford (the period before their record deal), the band signed a record deal.
Touring brought late nights, poor food and isolating conditions for the group.
During its early fame, the band faced constant comparisons to other artists.

Summary

Tour Crews Face Burnout

Tour crew say profit margins are nonexistent and they must load gear and drive between gigs.
Workers describe constant emotional and geographical displacement while living cramped together moving city to city.
The routine of sound checks, performances, and post-show networking fuels anxiety about unreliable guidance.
Industry silence perpetuates a culture where many endure pressures without help because discussing mental strain is taboo.

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MITC Launches Fund

Tamsin Embleton and the Music Industry Therapist Collective launched the Pay It Forward Fund for touring crews' mental health.
The fund received £272,000 to deliver 150 practitioner programmes over a three-year period.
It offers occupational health, mental-health education and pastoral-care services to artists and crew.
Applications are now open, and MITC provided therapy sessions during Radiohead’s recent tour.

1 / 3