Sponsors step in for singing charity

Friday 21 June 2019

Hotels and private donors were among those to step in at short notice to support a children's singing event, after its organisers announced its future was under threat due to government funding cuts.

The charity behind ‘Jersey Sings!’ – a yearly educational project that unites young performers of all abilities from 28 schools – last week said the event had been dealt a fatal blow, announcing that it had been stripped of its annual government funding of £10,000 just 10 days ahead of this year's concert.

Music In Action subsequently appealed to the public and organisationals for financial support, and started a crowdfunding campaign. Organiser James Mews also met with the Education Department to request more funds ahead of the two concerts on 19 and 20 June, noting that the charity had also been hit by costs as a result of having to relocate the planned concerts from Fort Regent after Health and Safety issues were discovered.

But Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois disputed the account from Music in Action regarding the government's short notice. She stated that the charity had been told that her department was "not in a position to provide funding in 2019" as many as nine months ago.

Pictured: The concert went ahead on Wednesday and Thursday.

"There is genuine partnership working between Education and Music in Action, so this extremely last minute approach to ask for additional costs for re-locating from Fort Regent is entirely inappropriate," she commented.

She then offered to bridge any funding gaps up to £6,000 to ensure the concert could go ahead - but only if Music In Action provided their full set of accounts.

The first concert took place as planned on Wednesday, with hundreds of children from 14 schools at the Trinity Showground. A second concert took place last night.

Speaking yesterday, a spokesperson for the Government said: “Children, Young People, Education and Skills has agreed to underwrite any deficit from the event up to £6k, subject to receiving full accounts from Jersey Sings. No funding has yet been provided ahead of the event last night or tonight."

Pictured: Faye Katsandé, one of this year's soloists.

The children were led by maestro David Lawrence with soloists local Jersey girl Faye Katsande, Joanna Forbes L'Estrange, Kit Ashton and Elliot Morris.

Backed by the Jersey Sings band, the children performed an eclectic selection of music, which included swing music, songs about the Suffragettes, Jèrriais and more.

The audience of 2,000 parents that came to support their children gave a standing ovation at the end.

“The show was amazing," said Stephanie McGill, Jersey Sings Director. "Our children from so many schools came together in the way that only music can and had a ball singing some songs with energy and joy. So many said that they loved the music and dancing – it was a bubble of excitement.” 

Pictured: 2,000 parents came to see their children sing.

James Mews, Chairman for the charity, thanked the sponsors who helped the show go on.

“Of course we particularly want to thank the generosity of the patrons and donors from Ogier, Sir James Knott trust, Jersey Music Service, Stage Two Productions and the Bosdet Foundation.

"And this year we want to thank those people who came together to pay the extra costs of moving from the Fort in particular the generosity of La Place Hotel and La Haule Manor and various anonymous donors."