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Brass Band Aid
By Bob Thompson
The initial idea by Stanhope Silver Band's, conductor Steve Robson (a long-time supporter of the charity World Vision) was to record a fund-raising CD featuring four bands from the Durham area, namely Stanhope Silver, Ferryhill Town Band, Barnard Castle Band and Broughtons Brass Band. Steve had three initial aims for the project.
1. To give the local Brass bands a challenge.
2. To raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign and
3. to raise moneys for his chosen charity, World Vision.
However, Briony Thompson, the band's 15 year old trombonist, took it upon herself to add that something extra to the project. Her idea was to form a Brass Band Aid Celebrity Band, featuring the UK’s finest banders, to record a brass band version of the Band Aid track "Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed The World)" for inclusion on this CD.
There was I must admit a certain amount of skepticism about the idea, but what do you expect from adults! But there is no doubt that the idea took the project to another level completely.
Briony contacted the world famous cornet players, Roger Webster and Ian Porthouse, who she knew from the International Brass Summer School in Swansea. They offered tremendous support for the concept and pointed Briony in the right direction in enlisting other brass band stars for the line-up. The response received has been overwhelming – so much so in fact, that players from all over the country were contacting Briony directly asking to take part in the project! Within a few weeks Briony had pulled together one of the most amazing Brass Bands ever seen, a real who’s who of banding.
Obviously key to the project was finding a date that was suitable for the majority of the players – particularly considering the amazingly busy schedule these players have. The date eventually settled on was the 15th of May 2005. The enigmatic Richard Evans was then approached and was delighted to have a space in his diary and agreed to conduct the band. Richard was very excited about the project, and in addition to the Band Aid track, Richard was asked to select several other pieces for the celebrity band to feature on the CD.
Alan Fernie was approached to arrange the track – and clearance was granted from the Band Aid trust for this arrangement to be made and what a wonderful arrangement it is too. Mind you, getting permission to undertake the arrangement proved extremely difficult. Alan was advised by the copy writers that it was unlikely permission would be given and a decision would take approx 6 months.
This was not acceptable to Briony as this music was the direct link with the original Band Aid concept.
Spending a day on the internet with my assistance, we managed to track down Bob Geldof and Midge Ures management teams. Dozens of e-mails later, in 3 days, we were rewarded with a message from the Band Aid Trust giving the go ahead.
In addition to the incredible financial support we have received, fund rasing has been a key to the projects success, Steve’s 13yr old daughter, Sophie, a flugel player with Stanhope Silver Band was keen to get involved, she organised a raffle and a tombola, which raised well over a thousand pounds for the project, an outstanding piece of work.
The Brass Band Aid CD was launched on the 2nd September 2005 , the sales of the CD’s coupled with the many fund raising events that bands and individuals have undertaken around the world has raised approximately £10,000 in a couple of months.
As you will see if you visit the Events section of the BBA website, there are dozens of events taking place world wide in support of BBA. Everything from pool matches, concerts, collections and raffles to auctions on Ebay to conduct and play with world famous Black Dyke Band.
Brass Band Aid, is not a one off initiative, as a result of the support it has generated and the endorcements received, BBA is set to become an established trust, thus enabling the projects it sponsors to be sustainable.
So many people have contributed and hopefully more will continue to do so, have a look at the supporter’s page on the website for more details.
We are and continued to be overwhelmed by the offers of support which arrive daily, every offer is viewed in the same vain, whether your efforts to raise awareness my be to place the Brass Band Aid log on your website, donating one pound or promoting a larger event, you are making a real difference. For example; £10 pounds will purchase 2 desks and all relevant equipment, even MFI couldn’t do that!
Please have a look at the website and consider how you can help make that difference, as Briony constantly reminds me, this project belongs to all musicians and there supporters, not one or two people in the background.
The Project
Working in partnership with World Vision, we have identified a specific project for BBA to sponsor. We were keen to target children and young people so it seemed only logical that education was the way ahead. The BBA initiative will fund the building of a school in a town called Adet in Ethiopia.
Annette Humphrey from World Vision outlines the project here:
Understandably in a time of crisis, education becomes a low priority and this resulted in poor education for many years, with two thirds of the population being unable to read and write. As people moved beyond survival, they are able to build a brighter future and nurture the next generation. However, in the town of Adet, in the north of Ethiopia, over 350,000 people have just one derelict secondary school between them.
World Vision has committed to build a brand new facility, investing in the next generation and partnering with the community in their drive to build a better future. All the proceeds from Brass Band Aid will be used to build a new library, fully equipped and other education facilities on the project as donations allow. Currently only 50.6% of children attend school, which for many means sheltering from the blazing sun under trees, whilst trying to concentrate on their lesson.
As Band Aid helped to save lives and give people the chance of a future, so Brass Band Aid is now helping to improve the lives and build that future, thank you for your support- you have made that possible.
Annette Humphrey- WORLD VISION
The Problem In the Adet area of Ethiopia, the school system is in desperate need of updating. The only secondary school – supporting all 356,825 inhabitants – consists of five poorly constructed blocks with three to four classrooms. There are approximately one hundred students in a single (and very overcrowded!) class! The school building is so bad that many of the classrooms are literally crumbling.
The government simply does not have enough money to renovate the school and if it remains in its current state of deterioration, the school will have to close. This would mean the end to secondary education in the entire Adet region. However, if we can finance the rebuilding of the school and begin work in the next year, the government has agreed to continue to supply teachers and support.
The primary goal of the project is to enable the young people in the area of Adet to be able to go to secondary school, hence giving them the opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential. This project will directly affect 3,500 children and young people.
Who will benefit?The school will support 3,500 pupils, but as it is the only one in the area, it will benefit the while community. As a result of this, up to 360,000 peoples lives will be impacted positively through the school. With pupils who have successfully completed their education generally becoming more successful, that success will then rub off onto families and the community as a whole.
Briony and I have been invited to visit the project in November this year, on our return we will provide an update on the project, who is involved and hopefully some commentary from the young people in Adet. The project will receive regular updates from World Vision and ourselves, enabling everyone to follow the progress as it occurs. I would point out that, the visit is self funding and members of Brass Band Aid, do not take any expenses from the fund. All moneys raised go directly to Brass Band Aid.
If you would like to get involved please do, perhaps you have some unique ideas for raising awareness and money for the project, please get in touch we would be delighted to hear from you, and remember, no idea is to bizarre, or is it?
Many many thanks,
Bob Thompson (on behalf of Brass Band Aid)
Contact details
E Mail: Briony Thompson
Web: www.brassbandaid.com
Mobile: 07786 026966