Once again we are running our two-part training courses online, but they are still full of fantastic ideas and techniques for making music with children who have complex needs. We’re offering two courses before Easter, led by our expert team of tutors: Mark Withers, Cathy Ibberson and Vicky Kammin. The...
We’re delighted that, with our support in partnership with the Friends of York Hospital, it has been possible to reinstate music therapy for children at York Hospital. After our successful pilot project, the end of which was brought about due to the pandemic, music therapist Aby Vulliamy has just started...
Having had a great campaign last year, we’ve taken part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge again. Donations made between Tuesday 30th November and Tuesday 7th December were doubled by our two generous ‘pledgers’, the Victoria Wood Foundation and The Lake House Charitable Foundation, who each pledged £5,000. This encouraged...
Special schools have faced many challenges during the pandemic – caring for medically vulnerable pupils, maintaining social distancing and bubbles, and dealing with the additional emotional and mental health needs of their pupils. Schools could no longer have visitors on site, so all Jessie’s Fund’s projects were postponed at the...
As well as a range of unique cards, we have some lovely bits and bobs in our little shop: as an example, for children there are simple and attractive musical instruments like this animal tambourine with a gentle sound, and for adults there are useful bags, or environmentally friendly reusable,...
Little Bridge House is one of three hospices run by Children’s Hospice South West: Jessie’s Fund has supported music therapy there for some time. Ceridwen Rees, the music therapist at Little Bridge House, was furloughed during the first lockdown, and tells us that when she went back, staff and families...
Since November 2020, Kirsty Ormston has been developing the Music Therapy Service on the Neonatal Unit at University College Hospital, London. Music therapy has helped with interaction, soothing, and bonding, and has provided many families with the confidence to sing with their infant. Music therapy also provides an opportunity for...
Having been cancelled last year due to the pandemic, our 25th anniversary wine tasting took place at on 3rd December 2021, at the beautiful Merchant Taylors’ Hall, York. Dr Stuart Calder led us through a tasting of seven different wines, all of which were very good: his presentation was an...
After a year and a half of being silenced, York’s chamber orchestra, the Academy of St Olave’s, celebrated getting back to live concerts with a popular programme in aid of Jessie’s Fund. The Academy of St Olave’s and Jessie’s Fund have strong links: the orchestra’s director is Alan George, Jessie’s...
Zizi45, who is 7 years old, watched her dad Criztoz, DJ, using 7 inch vinyl records – also known as 45s – at home and on live streams. As she loves music she wanted to try DJ’ing and really enjoyed it and spending quality time with her Dad. She now...
