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Patron: Victoria Wood

Jessie’s Fund began a two year project with Reynalds Cross Special School, Solihull, in September 2012. I had very recently been employed as the school’s music coordinator so it was an exciting and anticipatory time for me, and musically for Reynalds Cross.

Eve and Mark were the two main musicians working with the school, with Joe frequently joining them. Eve took control of group music making for key stages 1 – 3 and Mark’s speciality was 1:1 work. All teachers (KS1-3) met with Eve regularly, observed modelled sessions and were set tasks in leading music. The main focus of Eve’s work was to build staff confidence and skills.

Mark’s role initially was to guide me in my 1:1 work. I did (and do) deliver group sessions and have been an instrumental teacher for over 12 years, but had no direct experience in 1:1 work with children with complex needs. Later the focus of his work became music with parents.

Eve had a fairly difficult role as she had, in some cases, to build confidence in staff who had never played an instrument, sung in class or felt they were musical in any way. This can be a significant problem in Special Education, as often there is no music teacher: the job falls to the class teacher. Music can be a very daunting subject to tackle as it is so specialist and people often have firm beliefs that music is ‘not something they can do’. However, the first year culminated in a ‘sharing’ of all work and it was lovely to see all of the teachers leading their classes, some playing instruments in school, and perhaps in public, for the first time!

In the second year it was decided to focus on four key members of staff who would become ‘leaders’ in different areas of music. Over the course of the year these leaders continued to work with Eve, but far more independently than previously. There was also a whole school project

- involving all staff and students, led by these leaders - to compose and record a school song which would be heard for the first time in an end of project ‘Celebration’.

It was wonderful to see not only the growing enthusiasm

in staff, but also their commitment to the project,

and particularly their growing confidence and skills sets.

There are many things that changed over the course of the project. For me personally, Mark’s guidance was invaluable. To have a mentor with such expertise was extremely beneficial – and I feel this has had, and will bring, huge positive benefits for the students, as well as me personally. I was also introduced to the Sounds of Intent assessment tool, by Tom Northey (Jessie’s Fund). I have now completed a Post graduate Certificate in Sounds of Intent, which has enabled me to devise a whole school curriculum and policy using material from the framework.

Jessie’s Fund also supported me and one of the pupil’s mums to set up ‘Special Notes’ - a Saturday music group for children with complex needs and

Alex is one of the children for whom Jessie’s Fund has funded music therapy sessions. His music therapist told us ‘From the start he was alert and interested in the musical sounds he heard. His physical responses are very limited, so I tried to gather slowly and carefully which instruments he seemed to like, or to be less keen on. I felt that his eyes were showing the most response, so developed games and songs where a single sound - of a bell, or a short tambourine shake for example - would move around him, with clear pauses between each sound, so that Alex could try and track where the sound was coming from.

‘By week 6, Alex had become very interested in the music and songs, showing his excitement in tiny ways, with a slight curve of his mouth in the start of a smile and stronger eye movements. Sometimes, with his family, Alex was beginning to smile and try to chuckle as they played with him using the tambourine, his favourite instrument.

‘I hope that music therapy for Alex has been a chance for him to put aside his pain and difficulties briefly and to be distracted by his excitement at listening to musical sounds and songs. I feel that he showed his lively interest in new things by his alert state for most of the music therapy sessions. I hope that Alex was able to enjoy a short space of time in his week when the focus was on talking to him through musical play, providing a rest from all the medical interventions which are a necessary part of his life.’

Jessie’s Fund helps children with serious illness or complex needs to communicate through music

two year project - an exciting legacy

www.jessiesfund.org.uk

music therapy with alex

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www.jessiesfund.org.uk

an exciting legacy

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family running for jessie’s fund

Braidburn School is a local authority school in Edinburgh for children with complex and additional support needs. Last year we gave the school a grant to help pay for music sessions in their nursery. Their principal teacher reported back to us:

‘We know that music makes a difference and see on a daily basis how music helps pupils develop their communication and listening skills and make real connections with the world around them...

‘Several children developed more speech and often it was preceeded by the pupil humming a tune and then gradually adding some vocalisations. The music provised a scaffold for them to be able to develop their speech. Even our children with the most complex of needs gave Julia [the specialist musician] broad smiles of recognition when she came to visit, and if you listened very carefully you

Jessie’s Fund

their parents. This is already a very popular, well attended group - but is something that I think will really take off conceptually in the future. Without advice and funding from the charity, this would not have been possible.

The end result of the project for the school, staff and pupils was not only an exhilarating and unifying celebration, a brilliant school song, and a wonderful set of tool kits, but a palpable growing confidence in staff members and an enthusiasm for music that, in some, just wasn’t there before. I felt that there had been, as is often the case in special schools, a general recognition that music is valuable, but not always embraced or utilised in the way it could and should be.

This enthusiasm was not a huge step for some staff members. For others, however, it was a complete turn-around. One teacher said ‘I didn’t realise that music could be beneficial for the kids in my class, but now I see it can really work’. She is now one of the ‘leaders’ in music.

It was wonderful to see not only the growing enthusiasm in staff, but also their commitment to the project, and particularly their growing confidence and skills sets. Through the appointment of nominated music leaders and guidance from Jessie’s Fund we have been set up for success. As co-ordinator I now have a confident and committed music team, which will be invaluable in making music central to communication, socialisation and cognitive development across school, as well as celebrating music in its own right. I am very proud to be music coordinator of Reynalds Cross and I am so grateful for the hard work and support that Jessie’s Fund has provided to help bring us this far.

In the words of our head teacher, Jane Davenport, ‘Jessie’s Fund has helped to bring music alive at Reynalds Cross’. And we intend to keep it that way.

Sophie Gray, music coordinator, Reynalds Cross School

Jessie’s sister Hannah and cousin Katy have just run the Bupa Great North Run, surpassing their fundraising target of £1,000 for Jessie’s Fund. Hannah had deferred her place from last year, when knee injury had prevented her running. With the knee still troublesome, this year she said ‘I am running/walking/crawling (to delete as appropriate!) in memory of my sister Jessie, for her charity Jessie’s Fund.’ In fact, she and Katy ran every step of the way, and we’re proud of them.

Rachel is another of Jessie’s cousins, and on 5th October she too is running a half-marathon - this time in Cardiff. You can support her and Jessie’s Fund here:https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rachelrunning

supporting specialist music sessions

could often hear some wonderful (quiet) vocalisations...

‘Jessie’s Fund has ensured that what started as a small project is now growing into an integral part of the life of the nursery and is making a difference to the lives of our nursery children. They love their music and have so much fun and joy in these sessions that they are unaware they are continually learning and gaining in confidence and self-esteem.’

learning opportunities

Music-Making for Special Children is our popular training course attended by more than 400 people to date. It will be run twice more in November: on 20th/21st in York and on 24th/25th in London.

If you work with children with special needs and would like to get ideas about how to use music to help them communicate, express themselves, and have fun, you can find out more about the course at www.jessiesfund.org.uk/training, or call us on 01904 658189.

The course is suitable for all levels - some who come are complete musical novices, whilst others are professional musicians. The cost is only £80 for both days, thanks to a grant which allows us to subsidise it.

Our partners at NYMAZ are hosting a gathering for those working with children with SEN. This half-day event takes place at the Forum, Northallerton at 1pm on 7th October and includes workshops on music and autism and using accessible iPad apps. Adam Ockelford will be the keynote speaker. For more information go to www.nymaz.org.uk/news-and-views/post/nymaz-send-music-network-gathering-2014.

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20:20 twenty challenges for twenty years

www.jessiesfund.org.uk

Our 20th anniversary is in 2015, and in a few weeks we’ll be announcing a year of events to mark the occasion. We’d like as many of our supporters to be part of the celebrations as possible, and one way you could do this is by committing yourself to a sponsored challenge. Our 2015 target is for twenty sponsored events throughout the year with a Jessie’s Fund fundraiser taking part.

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brilliant bike rides past and futureNorthern Ireland was the destination of our 230 mile fundraising bike ride in May - in the wake of the start of the Giro D’Italia race, the (hilly) route of which we followed. The elite cyclists had left behind them villages decked with pink bunting, fields with pink tractors, garage forecourts with pink cars, and pink bikes large and small everywhere. We could almost have been persuaded that this was for the Jessie’s Fund ride!

Alastair Mitchell, bassoonist and friend of Jessie’s parents Lesley and Alan, joined us. ‘I volunteered to be the support driver without really knowing what would be involved. There were ominous warnings: “you’ll have to pack the stuff in well - there won’t be much room” and “it will be your job to get lunch for us all every day...”. True, filling a trolley at a supermarket on day one with 19 “meal-deals” was a new experience, but for me the trip was a complete joy. I wasn’t even aware of all the hills in Lesley and Alan’s smooth Ford Focus, I didn’t get rained on, and I got so excited about the lunch that I almost cooked it each day in their car!

My memory is of stunning scenery - the north coast, with views across to Scotland (Islay and the Paps of Jura; I had no idea it was all so near), very friendly people (and the generosity of a large donation at one of the hostels), and above all complete admiration for EVERYONE who cycled all those miles in such good spirit. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.’

Celebrating

Jolyon HallClive and Vivienne Gaskin

Bethan GullickMr and Mrs G Liggins

Mr and Mrs M PimMr and Mrs K Tang

The Amsterdam 300 Ride: 2 - 8 July 20152015 is Jessie’s Fund’s 20th anniversary, and so our ride will be bigger and better than

ever before. The Amsterdam 300 Ride covers (you guessed it) 300 miles - the longest Jessie’s Fund ride ever. There’ll be two groups - those who want to go faster, and those happy to take more time to enjoy the view as we go. We’ll meet at Hull for the evening ferry, cycle up the North Sea Circular Route and stay the first night near the coast, north west of Amsterdam. Day 2: cycle north east and over 30 miles of sea on a magnificent, huge dam. Day 3: down to Amsterdam along the Zuiderzee. Day 4: free. Day 5, cycle back to Rotterdam, arriving on time for our traditional visit to Europoort’s Le Pub! Average daily mileage will be about 75. Find out more at www.jessiesfund.org.uk/amsterdam300ride, or register online at http://www.jessiesfund.org.uk/form/

To start you off, we already have definite places available in three events: The Virgin London Marathon on 26th April (1 place - already taken!), The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 cycling event on 2nd August (2 places), and our own Amsterdam 300 Ride (28 places - see below). Contact us for further details and to reserve a place for these events, or to let us know your own exciting plans and stories. There are many types of event out there near you, whether it be running, cycling, walking or swimming - so go on, set yourself a personal challenge for 2015 - you know you want to!

how your donations help

Before the music therapy sessions started Charlotte didn’t communicate with us. Now we have a song for bath time, brushing teeth, eating and drinking. Everything you can think of really!

Parent

The twilight training session was amazing. It’s something I would feel confident in trying to deliver to the children in my class. It was inspirational, and full of ideas.

Teacher

Robbie has developed so much during the time that he has been receiving music therapy. His communication is so much better and he is using words and even phrases that he had never used before. It is wonderful to see the relationship that he has [with the music therapist] and to see him having so much fun every week!

Teacher

One of the joys of Jessie’s Fund Soundtracks projects is that they’re so well set up and managed. Strong relationships and creative processes can be developed because it is clear that structure and foundations of the project are so strong.

Musician

Ella and I have just got home [from the music workshop] and wanted to say a huge thank you for today. To see Ella so engaged and enjoying herself is a memory I will always carry with me. Jessie’s Fund is a fantastic organisation to bring so much joy.

Parent

Jessie’s Fund is registered charity no. 1045731

www.jessiesfund.org.uk

Jessie’s Fund15 Priory Street, York YO1 6ET( 01904 658189 8 info@jessiesfund.org.uk

vote for us - now!

20th anniversary

The Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards were established by the St James’s Place Foundation in 2011 to recognise children in the region who have done extraordinary things. This year the awards include a Group Award for the first time, and Jessie’s Fund is one of the 3 finalists. It’s a public vote, so it’s up to you to win it for us! Please go to www.yorkshirechildren.co.uk/group-vote.php to vote, and send the link to all your contacts to help us win the award. But don’t delay - voting closes on 27th September.

The winner will be revealed at a celebrity awards dinner and ceremony at The Royal Armouries in Leeds on Friday October 10th. If you would like to support us and share a table with Jessie’s Fund director Lesley Schatzberger and administrator Karen Kadow, tickets (normally £65) are available via Jessie’s Fund for £40. Contact us for more information.

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We’re grateful for donations in memory of

Millie Allaun

Frances Davies

Rosalie Hughes

Tony Pullinger

Donald Woolley

In Memoriam

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pennine sinfonia

Saturday 27 September, 7pm

St Paul’s Hall

University Campus, Huddersfield

The Wasps Overture Vaughan Williams Vysehrad from Ma Vlast Smetana Italian Journey Butterworth Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare R. Strauss Symphony No. 3 Saint-Saëns

Directed by George Kennaway and Arthur Butterworth

Tickets: £7 (£5 conc.), at the door

Raising money for Jessie’s Fund

iolanthe

Saturday 7 March, 7.30pm

United Reformed ChurchRadnor Park, Folkestone CT20 2QL

A concert performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan favourite,

directed by Michael Foad

Tickets: £10, at the door

Raising money for Jessie’s Fund

Would you like to be included in our 20th Anniversary events calendar? If you’re planning a concert or similar event for us in 2015, let us know the details before the end of October and we’ll try to include it in the leaflet due to be mailed out later this year. We’d also love to hear from you if you are a school or company which would like to nominate us as Charity of the Year. Get in touch if you would like a fundraising information pack.

grade one-athons

Staff and students at Bootham School and at The University of York were busy learning new instruments last term. Thanks to all who worked so hard, both to pass their Grade One exams with flying colours and to raise money for Jessie’s Fund.

Not everyone is able to take grade exams on instruments, but everyone, regardless of ability, can benefit from music.

the pokey hole

The Pokey Hole is a live music club based at The Miners Welfare Club in the village of Moira, South Derbyshire. They offer great music on a monthly basis featuring many well known tribute bands as well as emerging new talent.

The Pokey Hole has been supporting Jessie’s Fund since 2012 and has raised more than £6,700 for us in just over two years. We’re very grateful to all the musicians and support crew for their generosity with time and talent at two gigs in Netherseal Church every June. Thanks also to the local community, which gives their wholehearted support: the church is always bursting with an appreciative audience.

The Pokey Hole will be dedicating two more gigs to Jessie’s Fund next June, as part of our 20th Anniversary celebrations.