Dear HLMT supporter,
IN THIS NEWSLETTER, LOTS OF POSITIVE RECENT DEVELOMENTS!
- Another 2 HLMT-sponsored Liberian midwifery students begin their studies
- New merchandise added to HLMT ETSY shop in time for Christmas
- Upcoming events, including music nights, and HLMT craft and plant stalls
- Any leftover currency to donate to HLMT?
- A number of very successful recent events
- Standing orders, donations and bequeaths in wills
1. Two more HLMT-sponsored midwifery students begin their studies in Zorzor
In mid-June, 2024, the Phoebe-Esther Bacon College of Health Sciences held interviews to select this September’s intake of midwifery students. With the assistance of Abdul Rahman Bah, representing HLMT, two excellent candidates were selected to receive HLMT grants, Joannah Dolo and Esther Roberts. They began their studies in September 2024. We wish Esther and Joannah all the best as they join the other eight HLMT-sponsored students.
2. Visit the HLMT Etsy-shop for your seasonal gifts!
HLMT Merch group, together with a merry band of volunteer elves, have been hard at work adding a range of new merchandise to the existing items. There’s a choice of 3 seasonal card designs, Christmas gift bags, new cushion cover designs in addition to other great gift ideas and stocking-fillers such as aprons (S, M, L), lavender bags, festival bunting, hair scrunchies, bags-for-life, all made with genuine Liberian Lapa fabric.
Visit our shop at https://HLMTMerchandise.etsy.com to see the full range of our stock and to browse and buy! Free P&P!
3. Upcoming Events
Live Music, Friday 29th November 7.30 p.m.
As we go to press, this event which will feature Kellys Heroes and Karen Macleod, has been sold out. Waiting list spaces only are available at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DUIY
Live Music, Saturday 1st February 2025, 7.30 p.m.
Please go online to book tickets for another night of great music before tickets go. There will be three top-drawer local acts:
- Lowered Tones – Jazz, blues & more…
- Tim Garland – Traditional & self-penned songs/tunes on cittern, guitar & fiddle. (Founder member Fieldwork, Kasutima & Looma)
- Borderline – Rhythm & blues, rock ‘n’ roll, country rock – great vocals, hot rhythms & ace guitar
The gig will take place at the Main Hall, United Reformed Church, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3AA.
Tickets are £12 in advance, available from https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EBQM or £15 on the door if not sold out.
HLMT merchandise stalls at various markets
Once we’ve moved from Winter 2024 into the Spring of 2025, there will be a number of venues where you’ll find the HLMT stall, merchandise and produce. Keep checking on https://hlmt.org.uk/?cat=3 where the events will be posted as they’re finalised.
4. Any leftover currency to donate to HLMT? Ask your family and friends if they have any too!
Do you have any coins or notes in a jam jar or lurking in the back of a drawer, from holidays which are a distant memory, (or maybe some old British currency you’ve been hoarding)???
HLMT can convert this into funds to pay for the training of midwives in Liberia!
Just bring them along to any of our events, or pass on to one of the trustees, or donate online at :
https://www.leftovercurrency.com/charity/the-helen-loewenstein-memorial-trust
5. Recent events
HLMT Stall at Nottingham Green Festival, Sunday 8th September 2024
HLMT was at the Green Festival once again this year, selling a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants, its range of Liberian Lapa fabric greetings cards and arts and crafts, and home-made preserves.
On a day that threatened rain but turned out warm and dry, many people came to our stall at this buzzing festival, and we’re delighted to say that £575 was added to our funds as a result of purchases made.
Big thanks go to trustees and volunteers who helped set up and staff the stall – Carol, Celia, Joan, Liz, Lyn, Michael, Pete, Pippa, Stella and Suzanna. And to supporters who said hello and who bought plants, preserves, arts, crafts and cards.
Cake Sale, Maternity Unit, Nottingham City Hospital Tuesday 10th September 2024
Maternity Unit Staff at the City Hospital organised the cake sale to raise funds for HLMT. The initiative came from HLMT trustee Esther and HLMT supporters Bella, Jennifer and Steve. Bella and several members of staff baked and sold cakes. The result – a WHOPPING £569 raised for HLMT funds, all of which will go to training midwives in Liberia. Huge thanks to everyone involved in such a brilliant cake sale.
Live Music, Saturday 28th September 2024
A sold-out Main Hall, Sherwood URC, was treated to a wonderful night’s music.
Oldish Spice “Nottingham’s oldest boy band” treated the audience to harmonious renditions of songs through the ages. Bronwyn Westacott sang a range of her own beautiful songs – personal, poignant, thoughtful and funny, while playing keyboards and guitar. And King of Rome brought the night to a rousing climax and got many of those there up and dancing with a mix of Americana, English and Irish folk and their own compositions.
And at the end of the night, £1014 had been raised for HLMT funds to support Liberian midwifery students – magnificent!
Huge thanks go to all the musicians, to the excellent Dave Martin on sound, to everyone who came and to HLMT trustees and supporters who helped make the evening happen – Carol, Julian, Kate, Linda, Maggie, Nick, Paula, Pete, Pippa, Sally, Sam and Stella.
Big Give donations doubled between 10th and 17th October 2024
UK charity, Big Give, accepted HLMT’s application to join their “Women and Girls Match Fund” (WGMF) event from 10th to 17th October 2024.
The gross amount raised was over £6,000 – more than £1000 above the match-funding target set by Big Give. That is BRILLIANT! The final net amount will be known in late November, when Big Give release the funds to HLMT and other charities who participated.
Huge thanks go to EVERYONE who donated during the week of 10 to 17 October; and to HLMT trustees Celia, Pete and Stella who organised this campaign, especially Celia who initiated and coordinated it.
HLMT stall at Mapperley Makers and Vintage market on Saturday 2 November 2024
On a misty day, HLMT had a stall at a lively market event at St James’s Church, Mapperley. As a result of merchandise sold, £292 was raised towards study and accommodation fees for Liberian midwifery students. That’s a great result. Thanks to HLMT volunteers and trustees Carol, Liz, Pete, Ros and Stella for running the stall.
HLMT stall at Sherwood Vegan Market on Saturday 9th November 2024
HLMT took its INDOOR stall to this busy market. Thanks to the efforts of HLMT trustees Carol, Celia, Pete, Pippa and Stella, £153 was raised for HLMT funds, all of which will go to training midwifery students in Liberia.
6. Standing orders, donations and bequeaths in wills
HLMT aims to recruit at least 2 new midwifery students each academic year.
The mainstay of our fundraising is the regular Standing Orders and one-off donations from supporters, which are crucial to our work and for which we are so grateful. We continue to fundraise, however we have a long way to go before we are financially sustainable into the future.
Our overheads are minimal – there are no paid staff; so almost all the funds we raise are used to fund the training costs of student midwives in Liberia. If you have not already done so, it would be tremendous if you could please set up a Standing Order, no matter how small or large.
Please return the form to HLMT at the address on the form and NOT to your bank.
Whilst we hope that all of our supporters have long and happy lives, we would also be very grateful if you feel able to include HLMT in your will!
As always, a massive “thank you” to everyone who has supported the work of The Helen Loewenstein Memorial Trust www.hlmt.org.uk – also to our trustees, volunteers, supporters, and Sherwood URC for providing space for us to meet and hold events at minimal cost.
Helen would be astonished but very proud at what is being achieved in her memory.
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