Dear HLMT supporter
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
THREE STUDENTS GRADUATE! LIVE MUSIC AND UPCOMING EVENTS
- HLMT supporting 11 midwifery students in Zorzor, Liberia, this academic year
- Three more HLMT-sponsored students completed their degrees and graduated in December 2025
- Upcoming events, including live music fundraisers on 28th March and 16th May
- Any leftover currency to donate to HLMT?
- Very successful recent events
- Standing orders, donations and bequests in wills
1. Liberian Developments
HLMT is currently sponsoring eleven midwifery students at the Phoebe-Esther Bacon College of Health Sciences (PEBCHS). Reports from PEBCHS for each student show that the students are doing well, a couple of them achieving outstanding results.
Three HLMT-sponsored students, Benetta Kesselly, Dorcus Okoi and Victoria Ballah, successfully finished their degree studies and graduated on 13th December 2025. Abdul Bah, on behalf of HLMT trustees, presented them each with an inscribed fob-watch.
Despite substantial cuts to the UK government’s development budget, the British Embassy in Liberia has generously raised the funds, through their own fundraising events in Monrovia, to continue to support HLMT, by funding the two students they supported last year. We are very grateful for the Embassy’s efforts and support
2. Upcoming events
Live music fundraiser with 3 acts on Saturday 28th March 2026, at Sherwood URC, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3AA
Enjoy another brilliant evening of music, featuring:
- Beeston Ceilidh Collective: A popular group of talented musicians performing (mainly) Celtic songs and tunes
- Bronwyn Westacott: a variety of songs – political, personal, poignant and amusing
- Terminal Five Experience: Gird your loins, we’re back with another eclectic selection of popular hits!
If you have any leftover foreign currency, please consider bringing it with you to donate to HLMT.
Tickets are £12 in advance, available from https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FXHE (£15 on the door if not sold out)
Full details on the poster below
Live Music Fundraiser with 3 acts: Saturday 16th May 2026 at 7.30 p.m.
Another great night of music coming up, with 3 great acts:
- Fieldwork Reworked: songs and tunes from radical traditions on fiddle, cittern, [poster of 16 May gig
- Sticky Bones Jones: Just one man and his guitar – expect traditional bluegrass, old-time and some self-penned gems
- Better Than Nothing: Five piece electric Chicago style blues dance band with a strong beat. Bring your dancing shoes!
If you have any leftover foreign currency, please consider bringing it with you to donate to HLMT.
Tickets are £12 in advance, available from https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FXRQ (£15 on the door if not sold out) Book early to avoid disappointment.
Full details on the poster below
HLMT Plants and Crafts Stall: Saturday 25th April, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Crimson Tree, Sherwood, Nottingham
The HLMT stall will have both indoor and outdoor plants plus Greetings cards, Liberian Lapa fabric arts and crafts, home-made preserves and more.
Details on the poster below
Please come and enjoy, and support HLMT – all funds will go to study and accommodation fees for midwifery students in Liberia
3. 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)???
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
HLMT can convert this into funds to pay for the training of midwives in Liberia! This scheme/appeal has already raised over £1000!
4. Recent Events
HLMT Crafts and Plants stall, Sherwood Vegan Market, Saturday 8th November
HLMT brought our crafts and plants stall to the Sherwood Vegan Market, Nottingham. There were indoor and outdoor plants, greetings cards, Liberian Lapa fabric arts and crafts, home-made preserves and more. A good number of people visited our stall. Over £200 was added to HLMT funds as a result of the stall. Big thanks to HLMT trustees Carol, Celia, Esther, Pete, Pippa and Stella for working on the stall.
Live music fundraiser with 3 acts on Friday 28th November, at Sherwood URC
HLMT presented another great evening of music to a full house
• Connexion Man
• Matt Blick with Daisy and Nina
• Klezmer Tanz
At the end of a night of fabulous music, just over £1400 had been raised for HLMT funds, which is tremendous. Huge thanks to all the musicians, to Dave Martin on sound (all of whom supported the event without charge), to Sherwood URC, HLMT trustees Carol, Pippa, Pete and Stella and a large number of HLMT supporters, including Chris J, Chris R, Kate, Kay, Phil, Roger and Sam
Boots Orchestra fundraising concert for HLMT Saturday 29th November, Sherwood URC, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3AA
The Nottingham Boots Orchestra performed a fundraising concert for The Helen Loewenstein Memorial Trust. They played a wonderful programme to a packed audience at Sherwood URC. This included the Othello suite – Dance by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Petite Suite by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; A Christmas Overture by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; and a beautiful rendition of Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto in C minor with soloist Edward Hodgkinson.
Trustee Stella Nickolay introduced the evening with an outline of HLMT’s work. HLMT trustees and supporters Carol, Harvey, Liz, Lorna, Pete, Pippa and Stella provided drinks and refreshments and ran the HLMT merchandise stall.
At the end of a great night’s music, over £1,100 had been raised for HLMT funds, more than sufficient to pay for the study and accommodation fees for a Liberian midwifery student for a year. Huge thanks to Nottingham Boots Orchestra, Ed Hodgkinson and everyone who helped make the concert such a success.
Live Music Fundraiser with 3 acts: Saturday 7th February 2026 at 7.30 p.m.
A full house was treated to a brilliant evening of music, with three great acts:
Strawberry Jammers
Tim and Esme Garland
King of Rome
At the end of the night, a wonderful £1277 had been raised for HLMT funds, all of which will go to supporting the training and accommodation fees of midwifery students in Liberia.
Huge thanks to the musicians and to Dave Martin on sound, all of whom supported the event without charge; to HLMT trustees Carol, Pete and Stella; to HLMT supporters who helped raffle tickets and clear away after the event – Carol L, Carrie, Chris J, Glenys, Janet, John, Lyn, Mary, Ruth and Val. And very big thanks to Sherwood URC for their ongoing support.
5. Standing orders, donations and bequests 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 still have some 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. https://hlmt.org.uk/hlmt-Standing-Order-Mandate.pdf 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 and supporters, and to 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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