One of the fastest growing, free music festivals in the Midlands is urging city and county-based good causes to bang their own drum and put themselves forward to become its charity for 2013.
Worcester Music Festival is particularly keen to hear from charities which use music as a form of therapy or are keen to introduce or improve music facilities as part of their overall approach.
Embracing diversity will also be important in the festival committee’s decision-making process.
Last year’s four-day festival of live, original music over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which attracted thousands of music fans of all ages to 400 performances and 30 free workshops at more than 30 city venues, raised £6,000 for New Hope children’s respite centre in Ronkswood.
Jean Wilson, who runs the centre for children with disabilities and complex healthcare needs, said being Worcester Music Festival’s charity not only helped financially, but inspired her enormously.
“When I applied, I was very stressed as I had no idea how I would pay the summer staff salaries, and when we found out we’d been chosen, I felt quite excited as it really affirmed our work and gave us some credibility,” she said. “It wasn’t just about raising money for us, either. The festival committee supported us throughout the year, attended our Queen’s Jubilee party and summer barbecue, while one of the committee members, Sian Davis, painted us a fabulous mural.
“The £6,000 raised during last year’s festival will be spent on lots of things. New carpets, for starters, and new equipment and trips for the children. We are also trying to start up a new branch of New Hope in Droitwich, so some of the money will go towards new equipment for that centre.”
The experience also brought rewards for the children, said Jean, who set up the centre after finding a lack of support in helping her to bring up her own autistic daughter, Emily.
“Music is the one medium that all our children enjoy without exception, as even the most disabled children can pluck a guitar string and achieve something,” said Jean, whose son William Hughes is the bass guitarist in Worcester’s funky folk band Jasper In The Company Of Others.
“We took the children to see Worcester Snoezelen’s ‘Snoozy Rock Band’ as part of the music festival’s event to launch The Hive last April, and I was worried that it would be too loud. But, no, some of our children were up dancing, others were watching intently. Without exception, all of them enjoyed the experience and my staff had tears in their eyes watching them together, united in their love and fascination for music. Music reaches out to them and they love it.”
The total raised by the annual festival through donations, raffles, collections at performance venues and merchandising sales since its first outing six years ago is almost £25,000.
To nominate a city or county-based charity for Worcester Music Festival 2013, visit www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk/info/charities/ or for more information, email [email protected].The closing date for nominations is Thursday, February 28.
This year’s Worcester Music Festival, which takes place in pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants and historic buildings, as well as on outdoor stages across the city, is being held from Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 1.
