Jessie's Fund cartoon

Welcome!

Jessie’s Fund helps children with additional and complex needs or serious illness to communicate by using music. Music can provide a powerful and profound way in which children can express themselves and connect with the world around them. Jessie’s Fund is a registered charity working all over the UK.

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Child with chimes

What we do

We help children in children’s hospices to express themselves by using music as a language. We establish posts for music therapists, provide appropriate instruments, and offer training in simple musical techniques to staff. In schools for children and young people with special needs we give students the opportunity to participate actively in making music: they can create their own music, and then perform or record it. We place just as much emphasis on training staff in special schools to use music as a tool for communication and learning: in this way we leave a legacy after one of our projects.   We also offer support to other organisations aiming to help children with disabilities through music, as well as to individuals who struggle to access music therapy.

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Maxine Peake – Patron

Maxine PeakeMaxine Peake is one of the nation’s favourite actors. She enjoys a prolific career as a theatre, television and film actor, portraying a huge range of characters. As a writer she has focused on social issues and the stories of women who have achieved greatness in the face of adversity.   Maxine first came to national attention as Twinkle, in our late Patron Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies. Like Victoria Wood, her roots are in the North: she grew up in Bolton and still lives in the North West. She says:   ‘I am very honoured to have been approached by Jessie’s Fund to become their Patron. No-one could ever replace the extraordinary Victoria Wood: to be able to continue her work with an organisation she held so dear to her heart is an absolute privilege.   Music has always played a very special part in my life, as a healer and an inspiration.  To be able to reach out to young people with complex needs and allow them to communicate through the power of music is a must. What a wonderful and essential charity.’   Save

Trevor Pinnock – Patron

Trevor PinnockWe are delighted that Trevor Pinnock has become a Patron of Jessie’s Fund. He is not only renowned worldwide as both conductor and harpsichord virtuoso, but is revered as one of the pioneers of historically informed performance practice. He founded The English Concert in 1972 and together they spearheaded the revival of Early Music performance on period instruments. His extensive recording history of over 40 years encompasses many highly acclaimed recordings including Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites, and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Joining Jessie’s Fund as a Patron he states, “I am thrilled to become a Patron of Jessie’s Fund. Music opens doors to feelings and communication in a very simple and direct way and the deep joy I felt when I first heard music as a child is what I have endeavoured to share with others ever since. The power of music is huge. It is for everybody and it is a safe place. The work of Jessie’s Fund with needy children is of the greatest importance in giving children a sense of achievement and self-worth, and I look forward playing my part.”

News and events

25 Sep

Songwriting at Leeds General Infirmary

“Music makes me feel powerful” was a lyric from one of the participants of our songwriting workshops, in partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospital Youth…

25 Sep

Welcome to our new Deputy Director (Education)!

We are pleased to introduce you to Hayley Mason, who has recently joined us as our new Deputy Director (Education). Hayley will be leading…

07 Aug

Thank you West Bridgford Social Singers

We are very grateful to the West Bridgford Social Singers, who have raised £3375 for Jessie’s Fund this year through concert donations and their…

01 Jul

Participants wanted for music therapy study

The Autism-CHIME research study is looking for participants for a research study into the impact of music therapy on children with an autism diagnosis….

25 Jun

Stowe Family Law donation

Thank you to Stowe Family Law, York for their recent donation in recognition of our dedication and the significant impact we have on the…

08 May

Making music with special children 2024

We are pleased to announce that our two-day training course is returning in November. We will be running the course in our usual London…

More news and events here.