Verwood Concert Brass is a registered charity and has the registered charity number: 1144224. But as well as raising money to keep the band running. Verwood Concert Brass helps raise money for other charities as well.
Bloodwise – Christmas 2019
This year we have chosen `Bloodwise’ – The blood cancer research charity. We have selected this charity due to its relevance to Pam Reeks, our Verwood Concert Brass President and much loved and respected member of the Verwood community, who passed away last year.
Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK. And while huge progress has been made in improving treatment since Bloodwise started in 1960, it is still the third biggest cause of UK cancer deaths — taking more lives each year than breast or prostate cancer. Even for those who survive, the long-term effects of treatment can be devastating.
Bloodwise has four main objectives: Research — Funding of research to improve treatment and care for people living with all types of blood cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Bloodwise currently has over £84m committed across 161 research projects around the UK, all of which are enabling researchers to make findings that improve outcomes for people affected. Information and Support — Providing everyone affected by blood cancer with information they can trust, in language they can understand. Through their information and support services, they empower and connect people affected by blood cancer so that they can live their life to the full. Campaigning for better care — Bloodwise is the voice, at senior levels of Government, Parliament and the NHS, of the 240,000 people in the UK with blood cancer. Too often, care and treatment for people with blood cancer is not good enough. Bloodwise is campaigning to change that. Working together — Giving a platform to people affected by cancer, the researchers and health professionals who dedicate their lives to improving health care, and the ordinary people who do extraordinary things to support the work undertaken by Bloodwise. Plus working with other charities and the research community, so that as part of a wider movement there is the best chance of bringing forward the day when everyone with blood cancer gets to live a long and full life.
Bloodwise receives no government funding and is entirely dependent on voluntary donations from fundraising events or individuals in order to fund its research. Therefore, as you leave the concert tonight please do feel free to drop a few coins in the collection bucket by the band playing carols in the foyer. You will know for sure that it will go to very good causes.
You can also make a donation via www.bloodwise.org.uk which can include Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.
KCSN – Christmas 2018
Our chosen charity this time is the Kidney Cancer support Network (KCSN). Our reason for choosing this charity is because one of our longest standing members, Nigel Tiller, was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and KCSN has given so much support to Nigel and his wife, Jan, who also plays in the band, as they do to many other families who are affected by kidney cancer.
All the players who took part in the carolling session were therefore very pleased to have been able to raise enough money to award KCSN with a cheque for the sum of £1444. This will undoubtedly help them continue their excellent and valuable work.
Planets – Christmas 2017
Planets is a new charity based at Southampton General Hospital, dedicated to defeating Pancreatic, Liver and NeuroEndocrine Tumours.
This is the Charity that the band has supported with our carol playing throughout the Christmas period and we will present them with a cheque in excess of £1800 at our next concert in April.
PLANETS raises money to help the Hospital provide world-class care for patients in supporting their pioneering work in treatment, research and education.
One of our members died earlier this year of a NeuroEndocrine Tumour and PLANETS provided a great deal of information and support to help him and his family through a long illness.
Charity No 1051543
Katies New Wheels – Christmas 2016
The band has had plenty to celebrate. First up was the delight in seeing some of the money raised through collections at the many carolling events the band performed in the run up to Christmas put to very good use.
Helen Dunnings, Chairman of Verwood Concert Brass explained “Some of the money we collect through carolling is used to support the band but we also share some of the money raised with a chosen charity. This year we chose to support ‘Katie’s New Wheels’ via ‘The Tree of Hope’ charity.
Choosing this charity was easy. Katie, is 10 years old and recently joined our Acorns new starters group to learn to play the trumpet. As well as loving making music we found out that she would also love to be able to get out and about more in our beautiful New Forest and Dorset coastal countryside with Vinnie, her assistance dog. That’s not so easy for Katie as she has cerebral palsy but an all-terrain wheel chair would help resolve that, so hence the ‘Katie’s New Wheels’ charity to help fund the purchase of one.
We were delighted that the donation from Verwood Concert Brass, combined with that of The Sarah Kinsley Fund, meant Katie’s wish came true and were thrilled when she turned up at band rehearsal to show off her brand-new wheels.
