A Garland of Flutes plays for Jessie's Fund
Friday 9th March 2012, 7.30pm
Bedern Hall, St Andrewgate, York YO1 7AL
In the intimate setting of the medieval Bedern Hall, this concert includes original pieces written for A Garland of Flutes by Thoma Simaku and Ben Heneghan, along with pieces by Cottam and Berthomieu and arrangements of Dvorak, Mozart and Haydn.
Tickets: £5 in advance or £7 on the door, available online from www.garlandofflutes.info

Ralph Butterfield School Choir and Mystery Brass
Friday 30th March 2012, 7.30pm
Sherriff Hutton Village Hall, Nr. York
Sheriff Hutton Castle provides a dramatic backdrop to this collaboration at the Village Hall. Sit back and sample songs about scary sharks and spectacular sunshine. Savour the sound of the sparkling trumpet, sonorous horn, sliding trombone and skittish tuba. More about Mystery Brass here.
Tickets: £5 (children free with adults), available on the door.

Michael Parkinson’s Billy Fury Show in aid of Jessie's Fund
Sunday 1st April 2012, 7.00pm
Floral Pavilion, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 2JS
At a venue overlooking the Mersey, where Ronald Wycherley worked on the Tugboat Formby before finding fame as singer/songwriter Billy Fury. A totally different tribute show with fifty Billy Fury Decca and Parlophone recordings, accompanied by dance routines from Anamal Dance Company (Hoylake), Claire Knight School (Wirral), Nicky Figgins Stage School (Blackpool), and Wallasey School of Ballet (Wallasey).
Tickets: £12.50, available online or tel: Tel 0151 6660000
More information at www.mike4music.co.uk

Jessie's Poems
Jessie used to enjoy writing poems and left a modest collection which we published shortly after she died. They give a small insight into the world of a sweet child who latterly had to cope with a terminal illness. Michael Parkinson, who supports Jessie's Fund by promoting concerts and shows, filmed a young girl reading some of Jessie's poems back in 2004. You can view the film here.

Jessie's Fund Annual Report
You can find out lots more about our activities in 2010-11 by reading our annual report. There are photos, quotes from beneficiaries, and details of how we raise and spend the money so vital for our work. Click here to open the pdf file. You will need Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you don't have it, you can download it here.

Musical Bumps comes up trumps again
This great organisations which gives young children the opportunity to learn through music has been supporting Jessie's Fund since the end of 2008, contributing almost £5,500 to date. They raise money at their Christmas parties and sing-alongs. Thanks to all the little ones, their families, and particularly to the Musical Bumps teachers. You've made a fantastic contribution to Jessie's Fund.

Jessie's Fund wins Social Change Award 2010
On 25 November we received the DCS Social Change Great Giving Funders Award 2010. These awards were set up four years ago to celebrate passionate individuals and effective organisations which are committed to making a positive impact on society, so it's a real honour to triumph over about 700 entries. The award is a cartoon by Grizelda which captures the spirit of Jessie’s Fund. Grizelda’s work appears in many high profile publications, including the Times, Spectator, Independent, and Private Eye.

Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys
This highly respected Bluegrass band is supporting Jessie's Fund throughout the year. Since nominating us as their charity they've raised nearly £900 for us. To find out more about the band click on Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys.

Bronze Arts Award winners

Bronze Arts Ward successes
Congratulations to David, Roy and Emily, at Hexham Priory School, who have gained their Bronze Arts Awards. Our Soundtracks project at Hexham Priory resulted in an incredibly moving performance, later repeated at a public festival at the school. Inspirational teacher Sue Reed tells us that the participation of David, Roy and Emily in the Soundtracks project played a major part in their Bonze Arts Award achievements; we're thrilled that they got the awards.

Soundtracks projects in Special Schools
Here's a flavour of the great feedback we've received from schools recently.
'Everyone was so positive about the whole project....It was wonderful, thank you so much!'
'The pupils enjoyed it at every level, engaged with the music-making and with the musicians.'
'Lovely work undertaken in musical conversations. Excellent communication development.'
'Thank you – it was an amazing experience for adults and children.'

The Funding Network supports Jessie's Fund
The Funding Network (TFN) is a membership organisation of individuals with a common purpose: to join with others in using their material prosperity to fund social change causes. Members nominate charities who then go through a stringent selection process before being given the chance to present at their events. Our thanks go to composer Jonathan Goldstein, who nominated Jessie's Fund, and to all who contributed to the total pledge of over £10,000. You can see a video of our bid to TFN here.

Bobbin Box Jewellery for Jessie's Fund
Bobbin Box Jewellery is a recycling project set up by Anna Abba. Most of the jewellery uses old buttons and beads to create unique new pieces which make attractive and inexpensive gifts. Anna is generously donating the money raised to Jessie's Fund. If you are a member of facebook you can log on and search for 'Bobbin Box Jewellery', look at the photos, and contact Anna if you would like to buy an item - knowing that you'll be supporting Jessie's Fund by doing so. So far Anna has raised over £600 for us.

Oma Goodness! Austrian Magic in an English Kitchen was written by Jessie's grandmother (or Oma) in aid of Jessie's Fund. Rosl Schatzberger recaptures fascinating nuggets from a pre-war childhood in Vienna, as well as sharing about 260 pages of favourite recipes. The short foreword is written by Victoria Wood, and is guaranteed to have you laughing!

To buy a copy (£12.95 plus £2.30 p & p), please click here.

Raise Funds for Jessie's Fund When You Shop Online
easyfundraising is a shopping directory listing many online stores, including Amazon, NEXT, Debenhams, John Lewis, and over 500 other top name stores. Whenever you shop with any one of them using the links provided on the easyfundraising site, you'll generate a free donation for us of up to 15% of the purchase price every time! It's free to register and you won't pay a penny more for your shopping when you use the easyfundraising site. You can shop for flights, electronics, mobile phones, computing equipment, food, wine, insurance and much more - and every purchase you make will raise funds for us at absolutely no cost to you!
If you shop online anyway then try using easyfundraising. All you need to do is click here to visit the easyfundraising websit e and when you register, select Jessie's Fund as the organisation you wish to support.

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