The Lost Words for Somerset Primary Schools – Fund Raising update

End of week Two update.

As you many of you will know I have undertaken a fund raising project to raise £2,500 so that I can get The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris into all Primary Schools in Somerset. When The Oxford Children’s Dictionary removed around 50 words that connect nature to children, words such as Bluebell, Otter, Kingfisher, Dandelion, Acorn and Conker to name just a few. The Lost Words is now trying to bring these words back into Children’s lives.

When The Lost Words was published in October 2017 and I was blown away by the Spell-Poems by Robert Macfarlane and the beautiful watercolour paintings by Jackie Morris. I have been so moved by all the fund raising projects from that have been undertaken by so many people around the country.

It was not long before people took this remarkable book to their hearts and it all started in Scotland with Jane Beaton raising an incredible £25,000 so that every school in Scotland would receive a copy of The Lost Words. Currently there are around 16 fund raising projects around the country all with one aim to bring The Lost Words back to life and into Children’s vocabularies. And this is why I am doing everything I can to raise £2,500 for the children of Somerset.

As week two comes to a close I have managed to raise an amazing £1,405.00 With a further £1,095.00  Still to be raised by 10^th October. The sooner we raise the initial amount then we can keep fund raising until the closing date. This will then enable me to spread The Lost Words to even more schools across Somerset and learning centres. I have so many people to thank for their very kind and generous donations. If I manage to achieve this target, you will never know just how grateful I am. Every single pledge has left me humbled. I have been asked if I would extend to other parts such as Bath. I can only achieve this with lots more donations.

On 21^st August I was a guest of Claire Carter and the Breakfast Show on BBC Somerset. Claire and the team have been incredible with their support of the project. If successful there will be a follow up show that will be at one of the School’s when a copy of the book will be handed over to the pupils and staff.

Below is a link to the BBC Somerset Breakfast Show.

BBC Somerset Breakfast Show with Claire Cater – 21.08.2018

As with all Crowdfunding if the target is not reached then no money is taken from those who have pledged. So here I am making this appeal to anyone and everyone who cares for words, books, nature and children to help me reach the goal of raising £2,500 and see the Goldfinches fly into every Primary School in Somerset.

I am so grateful for the incredible messages of support and already have many to thank for their incredible generosity. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

So now we enter week three and invigorated after the money pledged so far. I will not rest until the fundraising has been a success.

If you can please do help by making a pledge via my Crowdfunding Page:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-lost-words-for-somerset-primary-schools

You can keep up to date by following me on my Twitter feed: @thelastWord1962

Every £10.00 pledged is another copy to a Somerset Primary School. The benefits for every child is so worthwhile not just in recapturing those lost words in nature but also in the health and well-being of children. There are over 240 Primary Schools in Somerset. Help me make this dream become a reality.

My thanks to Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris for the continued encouragement and support.

Thank you.

John

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-lost-words-for-somerset-primary-schools

“What we do not love, we cannot Save” – Robert Macfarlane

#LostWordsforSomerset