Category: Jackie Morris

The Lost Words for Somerset Primary Schools – Fund Raising update. End of week Two update.

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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.

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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 10th 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 21st 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

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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

Crowdfunding to get The Lost Words into Somerset’s Primary School’s Www We

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Crowdfunding to get The Lost Words into Somerset’s Primary School’s

The Oxford Children’s Dictionary decided to remove around 50 words that connect children and British Wildlife, words such as Otter, Dandelion, Bluebell, Kingfisher, Conker to name a few, the award winning writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris got together and came up with a fantastic idea that has swept across the country and taken a life of its own. The Lost Words (Hamish Hamilton) came into being.

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With spell-poems by Robert Macfarlane and the stunning artwork by Jackie Morris brings together just some of those words that would have been missing from children’s vocabulary. Nature at such a young age is so important. It was over 40 years ago that I was inspired by nature just by sights and sounds and words read in a book. All these years later nature and wildlife still bring the many pleasures and joys to me. The health benefits of being outdoors and being and being close to nature at a young age can spur a love of wildlife that may last a lifetime and who knows to their children.

It was not long after The Lost Words was released and people started to take the book to their hearts and then it began. First in Scotland. In early 2018 Jane Beaton raised £25,000 to get a copy of The Lost Words into every school in Scotland. This was the spur and The Lost Words is now a movement and around the country there are at present fifteen fund raising campaigns to get The Lost Words into school’s and the words back into children’s lives. It is a movement of love and the work and dedication of everyone involved really has moved moved me. It is uplifting and inspiring.

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Over recent months I have been close to the Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize and I was delighted to see this remarkable book reach the longlist. Then to see it reach the shortlist and with a chance of winning the Wainwright Book Prize. I attended the shortlist party and spoke with Robert Macfarlane about The Lost Words and I know how much the campaigns mean to him. The the prize winning event earlier in August I spoke with the artist Jackie Morris about my initial idea of raising enough money to get a copy into Somerset’s Primary School’s.

On the morning of 15th August I launched my Crowdfunding page to raise £2,500.00 which would mean that I would be able to place a copy of The Lost Words into each of the 242 Primary School’s in Somerset. I am extremely grateful to Penguin/Random House for giving me a very special price of £9.60 rather than the cover price of £20.00 which helps keep the target figure to £2,500.00.

The Lost Words for Somerset’s Primary School’s

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

This is were I need your help. I have until 10th October to raise the funds, and I would be extremely grateful for any donations that you can give.

The Lost Words Artist Jackie Morris has very kindly donated three special prints. If you donate £75.00 you can select a word and Jackie will create this word written in Otter. I have seen some of these and they are rather special. There is only three available. When they are gone they are gone. Jackie has also very kindly donated a small Inked Otter print. If you donate £5.00 or more you will automatically be entered into the draw to win this Small Inked Otter print.

Please spread the word far and wide the more people know the better chance we have of achieving our target.

I hope you can help and pledge to support The Lost Words for Somerset’s Primary School’s.

#LostWordsforSomerset

Thank you for reading.

John

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