George's Rockstars

What George's Rockstars does

George's Rockstars is a UK registered charity (Charity Commission number 1188730), founded in March 2020 by Amy and Craig O'Shaughnessy in memory of their son George, who passed away in August 2019 after a nearly five-year battle with leukaemia. Its core service is bedside music therapy delivered by HCPC-registered paediatric music therapists to children with serious, life-limiting or long-stay conditions inside NHS hospital paediatric departments. Active service sites span five hospitals across Hampshire, Dorset and Sussex: Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth, Southampton Children's Hospital (including Piam Brown oncology, PICU, HDU, neuro and cardiac wards), Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust at Winchester and Basingstoke, and Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton. Beyond therapy delivery, the charity deploys CMPSR accessible digital music controllers that allow children with limited dexterity to trigger sounds and play notes through light touch or swipe, and it produces annual Christmas charity singles ('Let's Make Christmas Loud!' in 2023 and '(It's Just Not) Christmas Without You' in 2024) with profits routed to programme funding.

The operating model is donation-led and multi-stream. Recurring revenue comes from the Headliner corporate sponsorship programme (£50, £125 and £500 per month tiers, each sponsoring 2, 5 or 20 sessions respectively with brand visibility on instruments, trolleys, website and festival screens), the Icons individual membership starting at £2 per month, a weekly lottery partnership with TheGivingMachine at £1 per ticket, merchandise sales, event fundraising (balls, concerts, golf days, dragon boat races, Christmas tree collections and challenge events), and institutional grants from the National Lottery Community Fund, Global's Make Some Noise, BBC Children in Need (2023 designated charity), Andy T Foundation, Freemasons and others. Festival partnerships with Victorious, Teddy Rocks, Wickham and Icebreaker, together with the longest-standing supporter Rocksteady Music School, form the community engagement backbone. Headquartered in Bursledon, Hampshire with five staff including four contracted music therapists, the charity is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees chaired by Mark Robinson. It has navigated two material adverse events: a 2026 data security incident via its Beacon CRM platform reported to the ICO, and a fraud conviction of a former trusts and foundations fundraiser sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

Name

George's Rockstars

Legal name

George's Rockstars

Website

https://georgesrockstars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

George's Rockstars is a UK registered charity that funds HCPC-registered music therapists to deliver bedside music therapy to children with serious or life-limiting illnesses in NHS paediatric wards across Hampshire, Dorset and Sussex, supported by corporate sponsorships, individual giving, events and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paediatric Music Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

Keywords

• Paediatric music therapy
• Hospital charity services
• Children's healthcare charity
• NHS music therapy
• Charity fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

FAREHAM, Hampshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including one-off and regular giving, with minimal charity overhead costs ensuring donations go directly to funding music therapy
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Monthly sponsorship tiers through Headliner and Icon programmes where businesses and individuals sponsor music therapy sessions at local hospitals
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue from charity events including balls, concerts, golf days, challenge events (abseils, skydives, runs), and festival partnerships
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, bags for life, and lanyards
5. Lottery: Weekly lottery partnership with TheGivingMachine offering tickets at £1 per week with prize draws
6. Charitable Single Sales: Sales of Christmas charity singles including 'Let's Make Christmas Loud!' and '(It's Just Not) Christmas Without You' with 100% of profits going to the charity

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

George's Rockstars delivers live music therapy sessions to children with serious or life-limiting illnesses within NHS hospital wards, using HCPC-registered music therapists and accessible CMPSR digital music controllers. The service supports emotional processing, pain and anxiety management, communication development, and rehabilitation across paediatric, oncology, PICU, HDU, neuro, and cardiac wards.

Product overview

George's Rockstars is a registered children's charity (No. 1188730) providing music therapy services to children in hospitals across Hampshire, Dorset, and Sussex. The core offering is live music therapy delivered by HCPC-registered therapists in hospital wards, supported by corporate sponsors (Headliners) and individual donors (Icons). The charity also offers accessible CMPSR digital music controllers for children with limited dexterity, produces annual Christmas charity singles, operates festival partnership programs with Rockband Tent activities, and organizes diverse fundraising events. Services span multiple hospitals including QA Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton Children's Hospital (including PICU), and Royal Alexandra Brighton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Therapy Services Live music therapy sessions delivered by HCPC-registered music therapists in NHS hospital wards, helping children with serious illness, disability, or mental health challenges to express emotions, manage anxiety and pain, develop coping skills, and support neuro-rehabilitation. Sessions are delivered at bedside, in playrooms, sensory rooms, and clinic rooms across five hospitals.
• Let's Make Christmas Loud! (Charity Single) 2023 charity Christmas single with 100% of profits funding music therapy sessions for children in hospital.
• (It's Just Not) Christmas Without You (Charity Single) 2024 charity Christmas single featuring Southern Ska Collective 26-piece choir, available as a download for a minimum £1 donation with 100% of profits going to music therapy.
• George's Rockstars Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, bags for life, and lanyards sold to support fundraising for music therapy sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of parents report music therapy makes hospital an easier and happier place for their child
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rocksteady Music SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongest standing supporter, partners on many fundraising events, hosts regular Rock Band days in children's hospitals, and supports festival tent activities at Victorious, Teddy Rocks, and Wickham festivals.
• Teddy Rocks FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic festival that donates 100% of profits to children's charities including George Rockstars. Annual charity partner with presence at festival.
• Wickham Music FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported since charity inception with annual signed guitar competition and music workshops at festival every summer.
• Victorious FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of the biggest festivals in the South. Charity partner with presence in kids arena through Rockband Tent collaboration with Rocksteady Music School.
• Lawson Rose Estate AgentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Headliner sponsoring 2 music therapy sessions every month at Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth following support at charity golf day.
• Piper Tree ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Christmas tree collection partnership for 6 years running, collecting and recycling trees while raising funds.
• Southern Ska CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated choral section for '(It's Just Not) Christmas Without You' charity single with 26-piece choir. Ongoing musical support.
• Abby's HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint beneficiary charity for events including Music Through the Decades at Mayflower Theatre. Collaboration on events like Dorset Tractor Tug 2026.
• The Rose Road AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint beneficiary charity for Music Through the Decades event at Mayflower Theatre alongside Abby's Heroes.
• Palm Bay GuitarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated guitar signed by festival artists for charity raffle prize.
• The BoppersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting band that raises money, puts on gigs, and advocates for the charity's mission.
• James WesterbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHampshire-based loop pedal artist who performs at local venues and supports fundraisers.
• Roy PeplowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouth coast solo artist who performs at fundraising events.
• Rubik's CubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergetic rock choir from Osborne School Winchester that performs at fundraising gigs and concerts.
• Andreas Nest (Action Coach)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness coach and Headliner sponsor providing monthly funding for music therapy sessions.
• Mandy Toule (Cognitive Law)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolicitor consultant and Headliner sponsor specialising in Wills and LPAs.
• Patrick McShee-Crabb (We Love Your Office)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffice supplies provider and Headliner sponsor.
• Nicky Saxon (Business 2 Prospect)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness development services provider and Headliner sponsor.
• Damian Chapman (CRS.insure)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance intermediary and Headliner sponsor supporting children through music therapy.
• AMFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndependent Financial Advisers and Headliner company supporting PICU music therapy.
• WPA Health InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner and Headliner sponsor.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Music in Hospitals & Care: National charity delivering live music programmes to people in hospitals, hospices and care settings. Closest direct comparator to George's Rockstars because it brings professional musicians into NHS wards, though it focuses on performance rather than clinical therapy.
• Chiltern Music Therapy: Independent UK music therapy provider delivering HCPC-registered clinical services in paediatric and adult settings. Comparable as a similarly sized clinical music therapy provider working with NHS partners.
• Chroma Therapies: UK provider of music, drama, and dance therapy services to NHS hospitals, schools, and care homes. Comparable because it offers clinical arts therapy in paediatric healthcare and competes for the same NHS contract opportunities.
• Momentum Children's Charity: Surrey-based charity supporting children with cancer or life-limiting conditions and their families in hospital. Comparable as a small regional children's hospital charity using emotional support and therapy services to fill gaps in NHS provision.

Broad incumbents

• Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent): Major UK cancer charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families. Comparable because it serves some of the same beneficiary population (children with cancer) in NHS paediatric oncology settings, though at vastly larger scale.
• Together for Short Lives: UK charity for children's palliative care. Comparable as a national advocate and service provider for children with life-limiting conditions, addressing overlapping beneficiary needs across NHS and hospice settings.
• Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity: UK charity providing specialist nurses and emotional support to seriously ill children in NHS hospitals. Comparable as a paediatric hospital charity leveraging a personal story (Roald Dahl) to build brand and funding — directly analogous to the George's Rockstars founder narrative.
• Nordoff Robbins: Largest UK music therapy charity, offering training and direct therapy services in healthcare and community settings. Directly comparable because it pairs HCPC-registered music therapists with paediatric and adult clinical work, but operates at significantly larger national scale.

Regional players

• Acorn Children's Hospice: West Midlands children's hospice providing palliative and emotional support to seriously ill children. Comparable in mission profile (emotional and therapeutic support for sick children) and similar charity-sector operating model, with a regional rather than national focus.
• Jessie May Trust: South West England children's palliative care charity providing nursing and emotional support to terminally ill children. Comparable operating model — small UK charity delivering direct therapeutic services to seriously ill children in their homes and hospitals, regionally focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1268038983266281
• Instagraminstagram.com/georgesrockstars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgesrockstars

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about George's Rockstars