LYT Newsletter January 2022
Hello all -
Happy 2022!
What a welcome relief to be turning the 2021 page.. it felt like we were all starting to sag under it’s weight I think, no? And though masks and government updates continue, it feels like we’re all moving on, and through. There is more than just resignation. We are stubborn enough to still want to see what’s next. We are carrying on with work, and making plans.. albeit one handed, as the other hand is busy keeping it’s fingers crossed.
Likewise, Martyn continues to be allowed back out into the world, having just finished a run of shows this weekend, culminating with one in London last night with Rob Brydon joining him for the encore! Two weekends of UK shows remain, and then MJ hops over to Belgium and the Netherlands in March, before heading to Canada and America in April and May. It will be wonderful to see our friends in those parts of the world, as it’s now been over 3 years since our last visit.
On our end, we also truck on, and have so much to tell you! A brand new project and new donations received by our partners - here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.
MEET HAFWAY
HAFWAY (HALLIWELL ACTION FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUTH) exists to help young people raise their aspirations, overcome their limitations and thrive despite the disadvantages they face.
Established nearly 25 years ago in 1998 in response to a need for youth work provision in the area of Halliwell, Bolton, UK there are now over 200 young people currently accessing the provision of HAFWAY each year and it has become a vital resource for young people within the community.
More than just a youth project; HAFWAY are a family where all young people are welcome and included, no matter what. They run a wide range of projects and sessions as well as a focused mentoring programme designed to help the individual needs of each young person. Their aim is to help young people know that they belong, help them believe in themselves and support them to become all that they can be.
HAFWAY pride themselves on their acceptance of all young people regardless of their religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender or social and economic standing and are committed to walking alongside young people as they discover their identity and find their place in the world.
HAFWAY is run by 2 full time qualified youth workers; Moira Frew - Lead Community Youth Worker, and Esther Peggs - Community Youth Worker, as well as a part time Youth Worker - Becky Fraser. They are ably supported by a strong team of volunteers and a committed board of trustees.
HAFWAY have identified that many young people need extra support and help in developing the necessary physical, social, emotional and practical skills to help them transition successfully into adulthood. Consequently, their Passport To Life programme is made up of 4 key elements -Independent Living, Dreams and Ambitions, Citizenship and Health & Wellbeing - and the young people involved are offered to be mentored individually or in small groups along the journey.
This, and a variety of other programmes they offer make HAFWAY a refuge to the youth of Bolton, and we’re so proud to be teaming up with such a brilliant, local project now through July of this year.
You can find out more on HAFWAY at their information-filled website: https://www.hafway.org
THIS GIVING PERIOD’S DONATIONS: £32,500 IN TOTAL
As you all hopefully know, LYT raises money over a 6 month period and then gives out donations. We support one major project in this period, as well as give away as many Community Development Donations (CDDs) as we can.
Marsh Children’s Home
We’re so proud to announce that at the start of January, we were able to gift our partners, Marsh Children’s Home, with a donation of support of £15,000! (This equates to just under $20,000US.)
Among other things, with this help Marsh Home will be able to purchase 60 badly needed new beds, fund some computer upgrades for their computer lab that is being used more than ever due to months of ‘at home’ Covid schooling mandates over the last year, purchase new tires for their one and only truck, make some urgent structural repairs, and most importantly, fund 5 new pre-school aged children to come live at the home full time.
We’re so pleased to be able to support them in this way, and during such a difficult time, and look forward to hearing more of their news in the coming months!
Amos Trust - Palestine Match Campaign
We were approached earlier in the year by our friends at Amos Trust about a matched campaign, the Big Give Christmas appeal, they were involved in to continue to support the work of Alrowwad in Aida Camp, Bethlehem as well as provide further support for NECC in Gaza.
With Covid being yet another difficulty added to life in Palestine, especially as vaccines were initially withheld, and with the recent attacks on Gaza in June of last year, emergency support was badly needed.
Consequently, we were thrilled to be able to donate a CDD of £10,000 in support, which was matched by Amos’ campaign and brought up to £20,000 in support of our friends in Palestine.
We continue to hope we will be able to reschedule our previously cancelled Volunteer Trip to Palestine at some point in the near future, though currently no date is yet set.
Advantage Africa - Refugees with Albinism
Our friends Andrew & Jane Betts who run Advantage Africa recently came to us with a new, pilot project they were working on. Along with their general work on albinism, they had been drawn to the plight of people living in refugee camps with albinism.
Specifically, in the Napa Valley refugee camp in Uganda they became aware of the glaring gap in treatment for those refugees living with albinism. Life in a refugee camp is already difficult even in the best circumstances, but people with albinism were being persecuted, UN conventions were being ignored and they were being given no health care for their condition, and many were hungry, lonely, isolated, and with no income.
Advantage Africa became involved, along with a UN expert on albinism, to try to start addressing these concerns. Specifically, first in Napa Valley with skin clinics and other aid, but as it was believed to be the same situation in other refugee camps, to start advocating directly to the UN, collecting stories to be shared with them to hopefully bring about badly needed change in these desperate situations.
We were happy to thus be able to support Jane and Andrew’s initial efforts with a CDD of £5,000. We look forward to hearing more about this vital work, and sharing updates with all of you.
Electric Umbrella
Over lockdown last year Martyn was asked to be an online performer for a project called Electric Umbrella. He came away from the experience so moved that he knew he wanted to help support their incredible work, if even in a small way.
Founded by UK musician Tom Billington and art therapist Mel Boda, who recognised there were few opportunities for learning disabled people to take to ‘the stage’, Electric Umbrella forges amazing live music experiences with learning disabled people as a way to co-create amazing, meaningful experiences that help those they support learn new skills and build confidence.
Specifically, Electric Umbrella offer free, live digital music experiences, opportunities to take part in immersive, small group music sessions, sing with lots of other people together, online or in real life, perform in live, local shows, gigs, or festivals, learn new skills, and challenge perceptions about learning disabled people.
Post Covid, they are currently reaching 2000 learning disabled people online each week across their live and interactive shows and sessions, and their online provision is very much here to stay as it reaches people from all across the UK. Consequently, we were very happy to support their amazing work with a CDD of £2,500!
Please visit their website (and subsequent Youtube channel) to learn more about this beautiful project: www.electricumbrella.co.uk
WE NEED YOUR HELP - WHO IS DOING GREAT WORK OUT THERE?
We end our (very lengthy) news with a special appeal - we want to hear from you!
Are you involved with a project doing great work out in the world that needs funding and advocacy support? Perhaps you have a friend on a Board, or who volunteers somewhere in the world with a great, grassroots organisation?
With 22 months of touring cut in these last 2 years, we lost our opportunity to interact with folks, which was often how we found our new partners. Consequently we need your help! Please be in touch with us - justine@letyourself.net - if you know of anyone who fits the bill of being a small, grassroots project where funding is directly used (ie they don’t have a million dollar budget), and who are making a difference in the world with their work. We can’t wait to hear from you!
As we roll on through January and into all that lays ahead, we feel invigorated and excited, and as always, unbelievably grateful for all of you.
May we all be stubborn enough to bring fresh offerings of hope and humanity to our world this year.
Our deepest thanks - say hello to us out there!
Justine, Martyn & the entire LYT Team