Sharing my wonderful experience with the Rosie May Foundation!

Over the summer of 2021, I spent a couple of months volunteering for the Rosie May Foundation. In true pandemic fashion, my internship was fully online, which meant that although I wasn’t able to work on some of the projects I was hoping to, I was easily able to help increase engagement and their reach on their social media pages.

My experience with the Rosie May Foundation began when I got in touch with Mary, the co-founder of the foundation, about the advertised internship opportunities. During our interview (which was also online, no thanks to the pandemic), we hit it off immediately. I was awestruck by how much this lady was single-handedly doing to help further a cause very, very close to my heart, and I knew then and there that I most certainly wanted to work for them. I came out of that call with a massive grin on my face – I said to my mum, ” I think I’ve found the perfect summer job for me”.

And it truly was perfect! Working with Mary was honestly such a pleasure. I never felt like I was working for her, and rather like I was working with her towards a common goal. A visionary leader with big ideas for the world, she sets a very inspiring figure for the world. She effortlessly guided me for the duration of my internship, pointing me in the right direction and introducing me to the right people. Also deserving of a big shoutout is Emma, the fundraising manager at RMF – she very effortlessly manages all the fundraising aspects of the foundation, from Project Hope, to tuktuk hires, and all of it with a smile on her face and the kindest words of encouragement for the rest of us at RMF.

My tasks for RMF social media were broadly split into two categories – handling the Rosie May Shop pages, and handling the RMF Tuktuk Hire pages. The tuktuk hire pages are dedicated to raising awareness about Project Hope, and increasing our reach of clients looking to hire our tuktuk, the profits of which are fully used to further the development of Project Hope.

The @rosiemayshop and @tuktukasianweddings Instagram pages

To increase engagement within the Rosie May Shop pages, I created several graphics to help promote the garments on sale at the shop, highlighting the different wide range of products available. While I was doing this, I realized just how oblivious I was to the other end of the product life cycle – as an avid consumer, I was only focused on the consumer-end of the product, but my time at RMF helped me realize that there is a largely more important part to the manufacture of garments – the person who makes the garments! Here at RMF, all the clothes, accessories and jewellery on sale constitute what is known as ‘conscious fashion’ – created via ethical labour involving fair wages and proper training for the women that make these products, it sets a role model for the rest of the fashion industry to follow.

The ladies that make the garments and accessories are able to gain a regular income by working with RMF, enabling them to feed their families and provide for their children. Whereas these ladies would have otherwise struggled to keep themselves and their children alive, they now not only have the ability to earn money, but have also been equipped with life-long skills, thanks to the Rosie May Foundation.

A graphic I created of Renuka, one of the ladies that Project Hope supported, stitching garments sold at the Rosie May Shop.

The garments sold at the Rosie May shop are truly some of the best I’ve seen. Made of soft, airy materials, they are the perfect summer/beach clothes, and the best part of all – they are sold at such amazing prices! For products of such high quality made via ethical labour, the prices are truly fantastic, affordable even by us students. They also feature various styles, colours and patterns for each product, and during my internship I tried to highlight these products by creating graphics for the Instagram page, some of which are pictured below.

A collage of several products sold at the Rosie May Shop

The @tuktukasianweddings account is a fairly new one, created when the foundation started hiring out their authentic pink tuktuks for private functions. Rosie, one of the pink tuktuks at RMF, has since made an appearance at several weddings – the pictures never fail to amaze me, with their bursts of colour and glamorous outfits.

Pictured above is Rosie, the foundation’s very own tuktuk, at some of the events that she was hired for

I also created several videos for the @tuktukasianweddings account. From Instagram reels to Tiktok videos, I got a chance to try them all! Thanks to this experience, I can now say I actually know how to use Tiktok!

All in all, I was very pleased with my summer internship with the Rosie May Foundation. The impact the foundation has is truly magnificent – I was struck by what a difference they have made in so many families’ lives. What I love so much is that the changes they make aren’t fleeting, momentary changes – these are real, long-term changes that can help these families for many years to come.

Recently, they very kindly published an appreciation post on their social media acknowledging my work for them over the summer. Words cannot describe how humbled I felt seeing the appreciation I felt in that post – it was honestly one of the most humbling, yet immensely satisfying moments of my life. Knowing that your work has made a difference to someone is a very gratifying feeling indeed. I am immensely lucky to have had the privilege to work with such a revolutionary charity that is attempting to break boundaries and is smashing the patriarchy, one project at a time.

The appreciation post done by RMF for #ThankfulThursday recently.

In a world where #NotAllMen has become more common that #YesAllWomen, the need to progress feminist movements further is now more important than ever. Although a century has passed since women first got the right to vote, we still can’t walk down the street without being objectified or go for a night out without fear of having our drinks spiked. Yet, for some absurd reason, calling yourself a feminist has become an eyebrow-raising comment.

For many, the whole idea of feminism is just unnecessary (this is the case for the majority of the world that actually benefit from the patriarchy, and do not wish to lose the unfair advantage they have (although they would never actually admit it). For many others, they have no issue calling themselves a feminist, but the true crux of the matter is that their “feminism” only goes so far – these are the people you’d often hear say “I’m all for feminism, but… ” . What they don’t realise is, when there is a “but” in that sentence, they really aren’t true feminists – they only want women to be equal insofar as they don’t lose their own advantages because of the patriarchy. These examples highlight the need for organizations such as the Rosie May Foundation, and the even more burning need for projects such as Project Hope – the world needs to change, and we all need to play our part in it.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that all this can change overnight – the issue at hand is large enough that it would take decades, if not centuries to achieve a truly equal world. But, I would also hate not doing anything about it – and so, my way of fighting back against the patriarchy, with my (very) limited resources, was to volunteer for the Rosie May Foundation.

Looking back, I can very proudly say that my experience with them was, indeed extremely rewarding. It is a truly exhilarating feeling, knowing that your contribution is helping make a real difference back home. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children the foundation works with, always makes my heart full. These are real people back home, and I’ve seen on countless occasions, how much of a struggle life can be for them. The foundation is helping change that.

Although my internship with RMF has now come to an end, I know that I will always be an avid follower of the foundation’s journey. I hope to spend time at the Rosie May Foundation pre-school, based in Southern Sri Lanka, helping educate young girls and breaking the invisible barriers they face due to gender stereotypes and gender-based discrimination that is unfortunately rampant all over the world right now.

I’m so truly grateful to have found an organization that shares my dream of giving every little girl and woman an equal world to call home. Big as that dream may be, I feel reassured that there is still hope – there is hope, thanks to charities such as the Rosie May Foundation.

Recent Rosie May Fundraising

Over the past few months, we’ve had so many people fundraising for the Rosie May Foundation! From half marathons to school affiliations, we’ve managed to raise money to fund many of our incredible initiatives.

On the 26th September, Richard Fox, raised over £1,000 from his Windsor Half Marathon! Richard is the director of Musical Theatre High, a theatre school which the Rosie May Foundation has worked with for over 7 years! Annually, over 300 students perform shows which they’ve been working on for the last term, to raise as much money as they can! Richard has gone one step further this time by running his own half marathon ! Through lockdown, Richard got into running as another outlet to pass the time and keep fit, through running 5km every morning, he has piled up the miles and successfully completed the Windsor Half Marathon, yesterday in an extremely impressive time of 1 hr 47 minutes! Richard Burchfield, who has also done a half marathon for Rosie May in the past, was at the event too, so it was great they could both cheer each other on! Richard Burchfield finished in 1 hr 54 minutes. Richard Fox said “I can’t lie but I found the whole thing really tough but I am beyond thrilled that so many people donated to this amazing cause! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR AMAZING GENEROSITY!”. Richard raised over £1,000 which will now go towards our projects both locally and internationally.

As well as this, Aylesbury High School has just become affiliated with the Rosie May Foundation! AHS is the only girls’ grammar school in North Buckinghamshire, with a long standing academic success rate. The school has previously worked with various charities over the year but have now changed to a 3 year affiliation programme. As Head Girl, Alice Burchfield, worked to affiliate the Rosie May Foundation as part of her role working with the community.The school now plans for all of the proceeds of their annual Fundraising week at the end of Autumn term to go towards the affiliation as well as a mufti day. Fundraising week involved three major events: Teacher Karaoke, Teacher Panto and A factor, a student talent competition. Furthermore, linking to Rosie May’s love of the performing arts industry, they hope to integrate the charity into more of their showcases where audiences can offer donations. AHS are delighted to be affiliated with Rosie May and can’t wait to build closer relationships and connections between the money they raise and the people they help!

Journalist interns from Nottingham Trent University share their inspiring connection to the Rosie May Foundation

The Rosie May Foundation puts time and money into projects all over the world to help struggling children and families. The charity also gives lots of students the opportunity to gain some insightful work experience through their various internships, which is something Khatira and Emma have taken on this year.

Emma’s story:

I am a 21-year-old student at Nottingham Trent University, studying my final year of Journalism. I have lived in London my whole life with my mum, dad and older sister.

I first found out about the charity when my course interviewed Mary, over Microsoft Teams, in late 2020. This was to put in to practice some skills we had learnt about trauma reporting. I always enjoy guest speakers coming in as it provides something different to a normal lecture, but I am not normally as inspired as I was by Mary. My course and I were so thankful and moved by Mary, that we made a donation of £70 to the charity.

Mary told her story and all about the Rosie May Foundation and it just seemed like such an amazing charity. I think the thing that drew me in the most was how positive Mary is, despite everything that has happened to her. She mentioned at the end of the interview that there were some potential internships which people could get involved with and that, immediately, set off a light bulb in my head.

The fact Mary took the time to talk to us was so great and the charity changes lives all over the world. So, I wanted to get involved to learn more about it and give something back, no matter how big or small that was.

I sent Mary my CV and didn’t really think much of it but when Mary emailed me to say I had been successful, I was really excited. That brings me to where I am now. I started my internship in February 2021 and have already learnt so much. I thought that my journalism skills could help to write pieces which would help raise awareness for the charity and just get their name out there, as I think they don’t get as much recognition as they should!

The weekly meetings with Emma and Mary have been great to catchup on the work I have been doing in the past week but also just to have an informal catchup to see how everyone is doing. As I have never done anything like this, there were some anxious feelings, but I feel very supported at the Rosie May Foundation and I hope to continue my work with them for as long as I can!

Khatira’s story:

I am a 20-year-old student, also studying at Nottingham Trent University. I am on the Broadcast Journalism course and am originally from Afghanistan. I came to England in 2012 and I currently live in Peterborough.

I also found out about the Rosie May Foundation at university, when Mary was a guest in one of our lectures.

I was drawn to the charity because of their mantra of girl power, how passionate Mary is about the charity and how far it has developed. What drew me to Mary’s story was her energy and how she explained everything in such a calm manner. I knew instantly something about her reminded me of my mum, who passed away when I was 14. Mary seemed to have such passion and resilience for what she does, and my mum also had those qualities. She strived for greatness and she had faith in whatever she did. She raised me with love and passion, and she made sure I knew what I needed to know way before she left her physical body.

I feel like I’m drawn to this charity because, like Mary, I don’t believe in coincidences as when situations out of the ordinary happen it usually means there is an extraordinary reason behind it. After I lost my mother, it took me years to understand that death isn’t the end. Sometimes people leave because they are far better outside of the human form. Those we lose we gain in a different form.

For me, it’s a matter of similarity and familiarity with unexpected things that happened in Mary’s life. The exact way she feels Rosie May’s departure gave her a reason to do what she has, I feel like I can understand her because I know her daughter helped her start the Foundation and she will continue to do so by guiding her in all the areas of her life, just like I have come to understand and appreciate how my mum is able to guide and support me, regardless of her not being here in the physical form. That’s something I know for a fact because I feel her energy and I feel like it’s the same for Mary when it comes to her daughter.

Now that I have got the internship with the charity, I want to be able to help in any way I can. I want all girls to have equal opportunities, much like the charity’s visions. I want to turn my beliefs and understanding of the charity and help support them to raise awareness.

We are both excited to bring our skills together and create some, hopefully, great pieces of content for the charity! In the month of April, we are putting a spring in our step with our ‘Walk and Talk’ challenge where we aim to walk 5,000-10,000 steps, five days a week and raise £50 each for the Rosie May Foundation. If you would like to get involved or you would just like to support us, check out the charity’s social media pages for more details:

Instagram – @rosiemayfoundation

Facebook – Rosie May Foundation

Twitter – @RosieMayNPO

TikTok – @rosiemayfoundation

To make a donation to the Rosie May Foundation team taking part in the ‘Walk and Talk’ challenge, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/Aspringinyourstep

The Rosie May Foundation’s Response to COVID-19

The world has been living through a global pandemic for nearly a full year now. With COVID-19 consuming our lives and changing what we saw as “normal”, we have all had to adapt, change activities, routines and most of us have probably spent more time on walks than ever before. As a charity run on fundraising and donations, the pandemic hit the Rosie May Foundation hard. Through the incredible work of 100s of volunteers the charity has been able to aid the local community more than ever before with the help of “Rosie the little Pink Tuk-Tuk”. Charity founder, Mary Storrie recently took the time to reflect about how the charity has changed and developed through the pandemic through the last year, the plans changed but the local impact has been heartwarming and extremely rewarding for everyone involved. The Rosie May Foundation have been able to deliver over 6,450 smiles and hosted 1000s of doorstop chats to those isolating or shielding.

Initial Impacts and Responses

Just under 12 months ago at the end of March 2020 “small charities were closing at an alarming rate and 40% had closed their doors for good” due to the pandemic. Obviously a cause for concern, the Rosie May foundation pivoted their resources to support their local community, alongside their existing global community which they continued to support.

An outreach community programme was set up, utilising “Rosie the Pink Tuk Tuk” and a network of furloughed volunteers to lead the programme. The Rosie May foundation was now able to help their own community in crisis, by delivering essential items to the vulnerable and those isolating. But it wasn’t all about what was being delivered it was about how they were delivered. Rosie the Pink Tuk Tuk was delivering smiles! Mary Storrie, founder said “the human interaction of a doorstep chat, and the good cheer that Rosie delivers is as important as the loaf of bread or medicine we are delivering”.

The volunteers recognised the difference they were making in raising community spirit and delivering smiles, often being the only human contact for people. The emphasis on human interaction, something that we used to take for granted. This initiative continues in lockdown 3 and many special relationships have developed based on trust, hope and compassion.

Rainbow Cupcakes, Celebrations and Clap for Carers

Daisy loved her visit from Rosie the Pink Tuk Tuk on her 3rd Birthday- Instagram @rosiemayfoundation

Many people also had to celebrate lockdown birthdays and anniversary’s from home without their loved ones around them. So to add an extra bit of sparkle, the Rosie May foundation delivered lockdown cupcakes, ingredients donated and baked by local volunteers, and delivered with a smile. Along with key worker children and teachers in schools, over 1015 rainbow cupcakes have been donated and delivered by Rosie the little Pink Tuk Tuk. Putting a smile on peoples faces and bringing a sense of hope and joy at a tough time for so many.

Bringing cheer to the local community also led to Rosie May’s involvement with the local clap for carers. Rosie the little Pink Tuk Tuk proudly drove through local communities alongside Bingham Fire Brigade, beep beeping to the clatter of pots and pans at 8pm every Thursday.

In December, Tuk Tuk Santa was busy saving Christmas for local children. Grottos were closed, so Rosie the little Pink Tuk Tuk visited homes with Santa and his elf. Santa knew the children’s names and where they lived, which they all found rather magical. Santa crews were mobilised across Nottinghamshire to Leicester and Leicestershire bringing Christmas Cheer to over 2,440 children.

Helping the Vulnerable

One of our amazing volunteers Wendy and Jasper the dog popped over to have a socially distanced cake a chat with member of our local community – Instagram @rosiemayfoundation

Senior citizens have faced a huge impact

with the lack of human interaction and restricted contact with the outside world for their safety. Many found they were missing their tradition of Fish and Chip Friday, so the Rosie May Foundation collaborated with Bingham Fish and Chip Shop to delivered directly to them. To date the Rosie May Foundation has provided 929 portions of Fish and Chips to local seniors. Without the support of volunteers none of this would have been possible. As we eased out of lockdown in July, volunteers were paramount in delivering a cake and chat initiative. A socially distanced chat in a garden or on the doorstep aimed to support people who were particularly anxious about coming out of lockdown. Relationships were built up over time. At the beginning , some residents would only open a window to pass their medication through, but eventually volunteers were assisting with their first trips to the local market, helped them manage wearing masks, social distancing and card payments because for many it was as if they had “emerged into a new world”.

Over Christmas the Rosie May Foundation recognised that many of those still needing to isolate would not be able to see family and be alone. Tuk Tuk Santa delivered potted Christmas Trees with twinkley lights, cheese boards with all the trimmings with the support from local businesses FHP Living and ABL Properties. Mary said “our seniors told us they felt they had not been forgotten this Christmas!”.

Work Overseas and our Emergency Appeal

Rosie May Christmas Lockdown Quiz West End Stars

With Covid grounding the travel industry this had a massive impact on tourism. Projects in Nepal and Sri Lanka were hugely effected. With the loss of fundraising opportunities as events like the Rosie May Ball were cancelled, an international emergency appeal was launched in May. Mums in Sri Lanka were saying that “they would rather die of COVID than hunger”. Once you hear a child crying of hunger, it is a cry you never forget. This sparked the need for a new wave of fundraising supported by Charity patrons Charlotte Gorton, Geeta Pendse and the Duchess of Rutland. Charlotte created a Musical Theatre Zoom Quiz with West End stars who work with the charity like Richard Reynard and Kelly Price. They had nearly 100 participants including me and my family and it was truly a great night of entertainment filled with laughs and really tested your Musical Theatre Knowledge. From the success of this one another was held a few months later. The Christmas Quiz raised £1,521.89 with over 100 quizzers taking part with people describing it as a “brilliant time”, “we totally loved it”, “what a wonderful start to the festivities”.

Virtual interns from Nottingham University also organised a Sri Lankan cook along evening, even someone from New York joined! Geeta Pendse, a charity patron, dedicated a yoga classes and the Duchess of Rutland made a public appeal for support. Over £10,000 was raised and over 1,000 women and their families were fed throughout the pandemic every month.

Volunteers and Donations

Roy Farrell and Phil Drabble who have worked tirelessly through Lockdown to deliver essential items

All of this incredible support has been given by volunteers and members of the public who gave up their time or donated to bring some light back into the lives of others. To support their local and global communities. Without this help, the Rosie May Foundation could not do what they do. Donations from businesses like Bingham Pharmacy who donated £400 worth of selection boxes. Musical Theatre High who put on socially distanced Christmas recorded performances to raise donations, and of course the help of our amazing volunteers like Roy Farell and Phil Drabble who fundraised by driving Rosie on a 400 mile tuk tuk rally in Wales. Their youngest fundraiser Vinnie at just six years old did a sponsored obstacle course in his garden.

COVID has been challenging for charities, especially small international charities like the Rosie May Foundation. Their remarkable survival is testimony to the resilience and compassion of their founder Mary Storrie who says ‘despite the challenges of funding, it seemed only natural for us to want to help our local community as well as our global community, we recognised early on that mental health is as vital to managing lockdown for anyone, not only the vulnerable’.

Volunteers for the foundation have gained a sense of pride and achievement in being able to help their own community. Rosie May’s legacy lives on in her local community despite the challenges of funding at a time when it is needed more than ever. The Rosie May Foundation have been able to raise spirits and add a little sparkle and hope to those around them with Rosie the “Pink Tuk Tuk” leading the way as a beacon of hope for the future.

MTH! Christmas Fundraiser and Scholarship Winners!!

By Alice Burchfield

2020 brought many challenges due to the pandemic, with one of the most effected industries being the Performing Arts. Whether it be the technicians, performers, audience members or directors everyone has been affected in a different way. One thing we all have in common is our love and passion for the arts, the theatre and all the magic that is involved. Therefore upon my return back to my drama group, Musical Theatre High, there was a huge enthusiasm and excitement around being able to perform again. This term is usually our charity term where we aim to raise money for the Rosie May Foundation and this year the academy have chosen to put on a variety of different Christmas themed performances. This did mean we were singing Christmas songs in September, but we can’t complain about getting in the Christmas spirit a little bit earlier than normal. MTH! are planning on showcasing the local communities talent in numerous performances with the main aim being to raise money for our affiliated charity. From 2013, as a theatre academy we have put on an annual Christmas performance for friends and family with the aim to raise as much money as we can for the Rosie May Foundations, Mary and Graham have come along to numerous performances, which makes them even more special. Last year we raised over £2,000!! The founders, Mary and Graham offer a scholarship to one student which will fund their training for the following year. I’ve been lucky enough to catch up with some of the winners and had a chat to them about their experience with the charity and what the scholarship meant to them.

2019 Winner Millie Barber with MTH! principle Richard Reynard and Mary Storie

Last years winner, Millie Barber, received the scholarship “for showing dedication” and having “ a great attitude as well as making vast improvements”. Having known Millie for a few years now, her talent and skill have improved so much and her respect and passion for theatre is undeniable. The scholarship, presented by Mary at Technique’s performance of Moulin Rouge, made Millie “realise that my passion for the arts was recognised and it inspired me to go further”. The opportunity that Mary and Graham offer a child annually impacts every student differently, for Millie, she said it helped me so much after my family was struggling to afford classes(especially since we couldn’t work because of COVID).” She also added that her favourite performance was our up and coming production of Cinderella, being shown on the 16th December. The panto features many upbeat dances, jokes and is guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s faces. She said that it has been a “learning curve for us all, having to do an entire show socially distanced” and that she was excited to be playing the role of Prince Charming.

Zoe White with the Founders of the Rosie May Foundation

2018 winner Zoe White won the award for her commitment and dedication to Musical Theatre High as well as her incredible performance skills. She won the award during Saturday Seniors performance of A Chorus line where she played Morales and performed one of her favourite solos. Zoe described the scholarship as meaning “a lot to me as Rosie May’s story had been told at every charity performance I’ve done and to win an award in her name was so incredible and made me feel very proud”. The following year, Zoe also played Elphaba in the theatre school’s annual Variety performance,taking a leading role and singing solo in Defying Gravity and leading her class in the number.

Scholarship winner Spencer Digby with the founders of the Rosie May Foundation

Spencer Digby was another one of the Rosie May Scholarship winners, having received the award for what he described as his “enthusiasm I showed towards MTH and my work ethic towards improving my performances and helping others”. At the time of receiving the scholarship he was also assisting at the Technique show doing the sound, whilst he was still in the Senior classes. When talking to Spencer he said the award was “ a real confidence booster for me because it helped me recognise the potential that I had and to aspire to push myself further.” He also added that “through the confidence that I have gained by getting this award it has led me to now become the first head boy at MTH which means the world to me”. Having worked with Spencer over the last few months, as Head Girl at MTH, it has been made so clear how passionate he is about the academy and everything he does. He is always there to offer support, guidance or a good laugh to any of the students and I can tell how grateful he was to be awarded this scholarship. Whilst discussing the Charity he commented that “after getting Head Boy i have spoken to them (Mary and Graham) more and been more actively involved”. He said that “Mary and Graham are really lovely caring people who are really supportive and determined to make a difference”. Everyone who has the honour of meeting the founders has commented on their warmth and interest towards the performance. For Spencer his favourite performance was Moulin Rouge in 2019 where he played the leading role of Christian which he described as a “really demanding and emotional role but I just loved getting into this character and performing with the rest of Technique as they are all so supportive and talented. With this being said, there isn’t one performance I haven’t enjoyed”

The first ever Rosie May Scholarship winner was Alice Hardy who received the award in 2013. She said that “despite being in the ensemble and not having a leading role, I engaged with the performance as much as I could and gave it my all”. Having known Alice for quite a few years her smile, enthusiasm and great sense of humour as well as her talent still shine through! For her, “winning the scholarship had such a positive impact on me as it helped me build my confidence even further. It also reminded me that it doesn’t matter what part you play, even if it’s not a lead role you can still bring loads to the performance, which is such an important thing to remember”. This is one of the key principles ingrained in the work and classes at MTH! as it demonstrates the reality of the industry in not getting the leading role at every audition but also how a show can’t run without the ensemble. When she met Mary and Graham after receiving the award she said it was “amazing as they are both such inspirational people! I’m so proud that we can help the Rosie May Charity”. Annually, Musical Theatre High have beaten their previous fundraising totals thanks to audience members’ generosity and the amazing work of everyone involved who work so hard to raise as much as they can for a worthy cause. Alice said her “favourite charity performance is definitely Cinderella, which we’re working on at the moment! I’m gutted we can’t perform it to a live audience due to government regulations but it’s been so much fun to work on.” Alice is now one of the oldest members in Technique and always comes in with a smile and such a positive attitude, guaranteed to make everyone laugh. This year she is playing the role of Swish, providing comedy and a new dynamic to the performance.

Musical Theatre High is putting on a variety of performances starting on the 16th December until the 19th of December. Due to the current situation and the inability to hold a live audience, they will be filmed for family and friends and a link will be attached so people can donate online. The Dance classes are performing pieces from The Snowman, Home Alone and Turkey Lurkey Time, all of which are guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit or whisk you away to a snow covered land with smiling snowmen all around. The Juniors Musical Theatre classes are doing a collation of Christmas carols, poems and dances in The Magic Of Christmas in hopes of getting your feet tapping and testing you on your 12 days of Christmas knowledge. The Senior Musical Theatre Classes are pulling together their favourite movies in a Christmas Movies Spectacular with extracts from The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, The Grinch and Elf as well as the classic All I want for Christmas is You! The Boys class is also putting their own spin on Christmas featuring classic holiday tunes and is guaranteed to make you smile.

So many students lives have been affected by the Rosie May Foundation and many are inspired by the work they do. Even if they haven’t won the scholarship, we have all heard their story and are in admiration of all they continue to do. For the winners, the award has built their confidence, inspired them to pursue a career in the arts and made them realise their potential. Mary and Graham will be also awarding a new scholarship this year virtually, everyone is so excited to see who it is and we all can’t thank them enough for their continued generosity! As an academy we are so excited to put on our Christmas performances and can’t wait to see how much we raise!

West End Musical Christmas Quiz!

Now is the perfect time for people to come together, have a laugh and test their knowledge of all things Musical Theatre as well as meeting some West End stars along the way, as the each host a round in the Rosie May Christmas Zoom Quiz! Taking place on Saturday 28th November at 7:30pm its an event you wont want to miss. With stars such as Richard Reynard, Charolotte Gorton Brown, Kelly Price, Charlie Storrie and Francesca Unitt, its going to be a great insight into the world of theatre and an oppertunity to escape back into the magical world of Musical Theatre. Below I’ve managed to have a chat to the stars before the big night to find out about their careers and favourite memories!

Charlotte Gorton Brown, Rosie May Foundation patron

Hosting the quiz will be the incredible Charlotte Gorton Brown who was “introduced to a West End performer of mine who had been approached by Mary to adjudicate the 1st Rosie May Dance Competition.” When she returned back from Sri Lanka the day before, they “had so much in common” and said there were “too many coincidences for me to not stay involved with the charity, and the rest is history!” Charlotte is now the charity’s patron. She said her favourite venue that she has performed in was at Lincoln’s Inn. She said “it’s wonderful to be able to go to places that the public aren’t allowed. It was however exceptionally difficult as the floors were highly polished wood and made dancing a tad scary!”. Whilst talking to the stars it’s amazing to see how varied their careers are, from shows, to roles to venues they all have such incredible careers but all come together to support such an amazing cause. Charlotte found it hard to decide on which character that she has played she could relate to the most as she said “every character you can relate to a bit although recently i have been playing bitter, nasty, drunken abusive mother’s so as much as i can relate to the pain. I cant relate to the actual!” The patron says she “adores getting into the mindset of a character, her flaws, loves, weaknesses, desires etc” and it is this that “drives my love of theatre”. She has played roles such as Donna in the West End version of Mamma Mia! and Mari Hoff in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice which she believes was her biggest achievement. Her dream for the theatre is “for there to be no barriers in acting. That it is accessible to all”. We’re all so excited for Charlotte to host the quiz and to find out more about her career!

Richard Reynard, Director of Musical Theatre High and West End performer

Richard Reynard hails from Leighton Buzzard and trained for 3 years at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom. On graduating he appeared in Fame, Cats, Chicago, Mamma Mia and Blood Brothers. He now owns his own theatre school Musical Theatre High! training and inspiring children of all ages in the world of theatre. Having first got involved with the charity when the Rosie May Foundation had a “Dance Academy offering some of Rosie May’s friends and other girls her age the opportunity to experience a monthly workshop led by a West End performer.” Richard was “one of the first”. He said he “struck up a great friendship with Mary and have been involved with the charity ever since”. Musical Theatre High is affiliated with the Rosie May Foundation and raises money annually in their charity term where students perform a variety of shows in hopes of raising as much money as possible to support the foundation. Richard said he “had the fortune of working at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London in two different musicals and got to know the building really well. In one show, i was a swing – an off stage cover to the ensemble. I would wonder the corridors when i wasn’t on stage.” He said it was “pretty spooky” and had lots of “secret rooms with old chandeliers and sets from previous years” but claimed he never got to see “the theatre ghost though!”. When i asked Richard about his biggest achievements he said his was when he “brought a 1950s Methodist Church in 2017 and converted it into a community space for local groups, events and parties”. He said it has played a major role in “helping new businesses get on their feet” and it has been “really rewarding”. He also enjoys being able to play a part in creating a “memorable celebration” when helping people plan events and parties. Richard dreams of completing the refurbishment of the building, “which involved an insulated roof, updated toilets, disabled access and rendering the exterior”. “Once it’s finally completed I am sure I will then have another dream- probably of retirement!”. Richard has performed in roles such as one of the brothers in Blood Brothers and in many pantos as the role of Dandini! His support to the foundation is second to none and we can’t wait to see what theme his round will be on Saturday Night!

Kelly Price is another West End Star getting in the Christmas spirit and hosting a round of the Rosie May Quiz next Saturday. Having first got involved when she visited the Rosie May Home when on holiday in Sri Lanka with Patron ( and her best friend) Charlotte Gorton in 2007. They met the girls and saw “first hand the amazing work the charity had been doing and continues to do”. She said “it was very heartwarming and reassuring to witness security, safety and opportunity being offered to children who had lost their families during the Tsunami. As an actress one of her fondest memories was “walking out onto a West End stage for the first time when I was auditioning for Mamma Mia! at the Prince Edward Theatre”. It “took her breath away” as she was still training at drama school it made her realise she was doing the “right thing with my life”. However she also loves performing in intimate venues due to “the detail, focus and energy you can create when an audience is close up and personal”. Her overall favourite venue was the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse which is a part of Shakespeare’s the Globe that was candle lit and cocooned by the audience. They performed Nick Drake’s All The Angels about Handel’s creation of Messiah. She described it as a “truly magical event”. With regards to a favourite character, Kelly thinks that “you play the right character at the right stage in your life” and “characters that i related to in my 20’s seem a little more distant now.” Recently she played Mrs Cartwright on The English Game for Netflix and although she was very different from me, I seemed to understand her immediately” and “just clicked” with the character as she was rehearsing. The actress claimed her biggest achievement was “still being in the business!” due to it being “a rocky rode” which she has never lost love for. She said she remembers “sitting with my first agent who asked me what I want from my career and I told him I wanted to play leading roles and to be versatile”. She was proud to be in The English Game and claims it was “the kind of work I had been longing to do”. She loves the world of theatre but had also been “desperate to be able to get my teeth into an interesting tole on screen”, further adding to the versatility of her career. This TV experience had lead to her ultimate dream of playing “leading roles consistently in amazing TV shows, films and theatre”. She would also “love to create work and opportunity for myself and others” as well as travelling more with work, “meet a gorgeous man, fall in love and have a family!” She can’t wait for lock down to end as in her eyes she has “a lot to do”! Kelly’s charm, smile and incredibly vast career are sure to give you a first class insight into the theatre industry and her questions are guaranteed to test your entertainment knowledge!

Those are just a few of the inspirational people we have taking part!! So if a quiz could provide some much needed Saturday Night Entertainment, go to http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rmfmusicalquiz to sign up. Entry is £10 per participant with all proceeds going towards the foundations Emergency Covid-19 Appeal and those suffering as a result of the pandemic. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Daughters death inspires charity triumph

By Alice Burchfield

Below is a copy of the feature article I wrote as part of my Journalism work experience course with the Young Journalists Academy which I mentioned in my first post!

In 2003, age 10, Rosie May Storrie was murdered at a Christmas party by a 17-year-old boy she knew. The young dancer was the daughter of Mary and Graham Storrie, the founders of the Rosie May Foundation. After receiving a sign from their deceased daughter they wanted to create a legacy to honour her life.

December 2003

Whilst the adults were downstairs, Paul Smith murdered Rosie May at his Uncle’s house in Normanton on the 28th of December.

Smith suffered from a form of Autism called Asperger’s syndrome. Miss Storrie had no reason to be cautious of him, he was the nephew of the hosts and she had known him all her life. Shortly after she was suffocated by a pillow over her face, her parents tried to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She was taken to Sheffield Paediatric Intensive Care Unit but the brain damage was catastrophic and irreversible. Two days later the life support was turned off.

The 17-year-old was sentenced to life for murdering the 10-year-old schoolgirl, alongside previous allegations of sexual assault. (Daily Mail article)

December 2004

On the 25th of December, the family visited Sri Lanka and planted a palm tree in memory of their daughter. It still stood after the fourth largest earthquake of modern times hit it. Mary Storrie, Rosie May’s mother said “I think we were guided by Rosie May to go there, although we did not know that at the time.” The Boxing Day Tsunami killed 275,000, destroyed 140,000 homes, and an estimated £8.054 billion was lost in business industries (knowledge.aidr.org).

Despite all this, the palm tree that Mary and Graham planted remained standing. The grieving parents said they were “overwhelmed and relieved to see it standing perfectly untouched”. In a recent interview with the founders, they said: “We felt like the palm tree was a sign from Rosie May that she had kept us safe and in turn, we were inspired to keep children safe who had been made parentless in the tsunami by creating a living legacy to Rosie May.”

This kickstarted their first project in Sri Lanka, The Rosie May Home.

2008 -The Rosie May Home

Opened in 2008 working in partnership with the People in Need Foundation, the home creates a family orientated, safe environment for children in times of crisis. The project supports young girls, striving to unlock their potential and provide a positive future, which their daughter was denied. A BBC article said, “it is estimated that 5,275 children lost either or both parents in the Boxing Day Tsunami”. The family wanted to do everything they could to reunite children with their relatives.

As well as the palm tree in Sri Lanka providing closure, it provided opportunity and inspiration.

2017 – Female drivers in Sri Lanka

In 2017, the Rosie May Foundation rolled out a groundbreaking program to train single mothers as tuk-tuk drivers. The foundation planned the project when they discovered 90% of local women aged 15-35 have been subjected to sexual harassment on public transport

(United Nations Population Fund Sri Lanka ).

So far they have provided;-

Driver training for 12 single mums to give them a reliable income
Increased productivity for mums who no longer have to chaperone their daughters to school
12 Pink Tuk Tuks = personal safety for 900+ women and girls weekly

To learn more about the Think Pink project click on this video or this link

From despair to success – A native’s journey

Being recently widowed and close to despair, Disna was close to taking her own life. The mother of five reached out to the foundation and became one of the first single mothers to learn to drive. She is now providing regular school runs for children as her source of income and attends free English lessons provided by the charity, allowing her to offer her taxi to tourists. Without the message from Rosie May to her parents on the 27th December 2004, Disna’s story could have had a very different ending.

Pink Tuk-Tuks in the UK

The UK was put into Lockdown from 23rd March, but this didn’t stop the foundation from continuing their work locally. Sam Ellis, Fundraising manager for the Rosie May Foundation, described their work as “a volunteer-led project where we’ve trained 14 drivers to deliver essential items and vital medication to the self-isolating and vulnerable members of the community.” They also started “an initiative called “Cake and Chat” which is a befriender service aimed at helping the community ease out of Lockdown”. ”In Lockdown, we have delivered to 1,850 people in our local community as well as feeding over 1,000 people in Sri Lanka”.

Mary and Phil delivering essentials in Nottingham

Mary Storrie on “Turning tragedy into hope”

In a recent interview, Sam Ellis said, “Mary has the strength and determination driven by the power of a mother’s love to turn a personal tragedy into an international triumph. She is an inspiration to everyone she meets and has the ability to bring out compassion in people that no one else can.” The “well-respected much loved” mother is seen as “an angel without wings” by the girls in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Mary Storrie, Founder of the Rosie-May Foundation

The founder has been nominated for awards such as the Pride of Rushcliffe Award in 2019 and the YOU/Clarins Most Dynamisante Woman of the Year competition in 2016.

In an interview with Catherine O’Brien in 2016 for the For You magazine, Mary spoke about how she refused “to let Rosie May’s murder consume me” and how “we always feel incomplete. But we can’t change that and wouldn’t want to, because to do so would be to deny the shining light Rosie May was in all our lives”. She goes on to speak about them offering a “hand up, not a handout”, they “empower these women so that they have the strength to keep their bond with their children alive”. Providing women with resources and opportunities and build lasting relationships, rather than giving them one-off help.

Mary Storrie is a remarkable woman who has changed hundreds of lives in response to her personal tragedy. She and her husband’s continuous work to keep launching new projects show their dedication to the charity. 16 years after the murder of their 10-year-old daughter, they have raised over £1.1 million, kept 900 families together and supported 3,220 children.

If you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring a child or donating visit rosie-may.com, email info@rosiemay.com or call +44 (0) 1949 358 745 to be a part of Rosie May’s legacy.

How you can help – Donations and Sponsorship opportunities

By Alice Burchfield

With Covid-19 having a huge impact on our fundraising, we need your help now more than ever. The global pandemic, which put the country into Lockdown, has led to the cancellation of many of our fundraising events. If you want to get involved and be a part of Rosie May’s legacy there are plenty of ways to do so, from donating, to visiting the projects or sponsoring a child, there’s something for everyone. This post explains the details about donating, sponsoring and our emergency appeal.

Donations

Donations are a key part of keeping the foundation alive and ensuring women and girls in our care are kept safe, fed, and educated. The size of your donation is a personal choice, a little money can go a long way, but the more you’re able to give the better! Donations can be made as a single transaction or as a monthly direct debit payment. Monthly payments provide security for families and ensure that we are using your donations in the most efficient way!

How to make a donation

The best way to make a donation is through the foundations Just Giving Page. This can be accessed by clicking here or by visiting our website (rosie-may.com).

Fundraiser Helen Tyrell said “Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving- they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate- saving time and cutting costs for the charity” Helen’s JustGiving page
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing info@rosiemay.com or calling 01949 358745.

Why do people donate?

Where your money goes

COVID- 19 Appeal

We are on the brink of a hunger pandemic. We have been providing food parcels to feed the families in Sri Lanka and as of May 2020, we have been able to feed 1000 people since the start of lockdown. There are still so many families suffering from no income and struggling to buy basic necessities!

Our families have told us their reality is either COVID-19 or starvation and have said “they would rather die from COVID”

To try and help reduce the number of families suffering from starvation we have put together food parcels which include;-

Any donation you would like to make to our appeal is greatly appreciated. We are aiming to raise £10,000 and so far we have raised over £8,000! A little money goes a long way and can help fund food parcels and save lives.

£15 per month will feed an extended family (up to six people: grandparents, parents, and children) for a WHOLE month!

Mary Storrie the Founder of the Rosie May Foundation said “Thank you for your incredible support to date we have now fed over 1,000 mums, children and their extended families since lockdown. We do of course need to continue feeding families for some time as it will take a while for them to get back on their feet. Please give if you can.”

To donate please click here which will take you to our JustGiving page.

Sponsorship

If you’re looking to give something extra, sponsorship is a great way to do so. Sponsoring a family means a regular monthly donation will be used to aid a family through their education, food, lifestyle, and work, from training to transport to school your money will make a huge difference.

What does it cost?

For just £25 a month you can sponsor a family in Sri Lanka or Nepal, giving them an education and helping them achieve their full potential. £25 is the average donation, but currently, we have donations ranging from £3 a month to over £100 a month, so it is completely up to you but know that 100% of your sponsorship goes to your sponsored family.

What does the sponsorship provide?

Education/books
Additional activities – IT/English/Sport/Dance/Counselling
Clothing / school uniform –
Health Education/ Career Guidance
Transport to school

As you can see, your generous donations provide a huge scope of opportunity and aid to people in need. The more we are able to raise and the more monthly supporters we have, the more lives we are able to change.

Why is my sponsorship important?

Sponsorships are vital in unlocking the potential of girls to give them the best start in life. It provides quality education for young women aged 3-18 years. When your girl reaches 18, depending on circumstances, you may be able to continue your sponsorship to aid them in their vocational training or higher education. This is widely encouraged to ensure your child achieves independence and has access to all the opportunities presented to them.

How to become a sponsor?

To set up your sponsorship visit this link, which will take you to our designation Sponsorship JustGiving page. The site will guide you through the process and take the necessary details in just 4 simple steps.

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us by visiting our website or emailing info@rosiemay.com.

“It is hard to explain but when you are with Mary and Graham you feel privileged to be within their circle” – Richard Burchfield

Our family’s motivation, support, and involvement with the Rosie May Foundation

By Alice Burchfield

Having first met Mary and Graham at Musical Theatre High’s Charity Performances a few years ago, it was easy to see what exceptional individuals they were. From the moment they started telling their story to students, friends, and family at the Recreation Rooms in Leighton Buzzard, I felt compelled to support the legacy for their daughter Rosie May. Their daughter’s death resonates with so many, whether it be the hurt and grief they experienced or the passion that their 10- year- old daughter had for the performing arts, it touched everyone. 5 minutes later, I knew this was going to be a story I would never forget. Without their visit to Musical Theatre High! I would never have been able to hear from the founders themselves and the incredible opportunity they have created from every parent’s worst nightmare.

Senior Dance performed Spirit from Disney’s the Lion King in Decemeber 2019

Technique Performing Moulin Rouge in December 2019

Musical Theatre High! is a singing, dancing, and acting academy run by Richard Reynard, an ex-west end performer. Every Winter Term, we hold an in house charity performance for family and friends to raise money. The academy is affiliated with the Rosie May Foundation and every year Mary, Graham, and Sam try to come and visit to interact with the students and see what we have all been working on. We have performed shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Scrooge, Moulin Rouge, Viva Forever, and Little Shop of Horrors. In 2018 we raised £2,057.54 and in 2019 we raised £2,214.46. Last year I performed in Moulin Rouge and The Lion King, both of which Mary was able to come and watch.

Scholarship 2019 Winner Millie Barber with Academy Director Richard Reynard and Charity Founder Mary Storrie

Scholarship Winner in 2018 Zoe White pictured with Richard Reynard and Mary Storrie

Mary and Graham fund a one-year scholarship to a student at the academy, giving them the opportunity to further their training for free. Last year’s winner Millie Barber was “completely taken by surprise” when director, Richard Reynard, presented her with the award for her “hard work, positive attitude, and progression with her performance capabilities”. With her “huge passion for the arts”, Millie has similar interests and aspirations to the founder’s daughter, making her the perfect winner of the award. The talented dancer has been “inspired by their work.” and also said, “It’s amazing how they help and support so many different people from different backgrounds to give them the best life that they can.” She also commented on how Mary and Graham have created an “incredible foundation” and that they were “two of the loveliest people” she had met. From a personal perspective, Musical Theatre High has helped me gain confidence, improve my skill set, make new friends, as well as providing me with an uplifting, safe environment where I can be surrounded by others who share the same passion for musical theatre as myself.

During Lockdown, I was also lucky enough to win a place on a Journalism and Creative Writing work experience course with the Young Journalists Academy. Our main task for the week was to create a feature piece. For mine, I chose to write about how Mary and Graham have been able to take every parents worst nightmare and turn it into a successful charity, which has changed thousands of lives, both here in the UK and abroad in Sri Lanka and Nepal. As well as this we had workshops, through live Google Meets with industry professionals such as Mark Hudson, Creative Director Video, News UK, Kyle Farrell, news sub-editor and copy-taster, The Sun, Shingi Mararike, news reporter, The Sunday Times and Eleanor Stammeijer, Publicity Assitant, DK. All these workshops provided me with incredible advice and tips for getting into the industry and on improving my writing. I loved working with the foundation throughout the week and wanted to continue to do my bit to contribute to such an incredible cause. Mary and Sam were both extremely supportive and offered me the opportunity to manage the Rosie-May blog! I am looking forward to keeping you up to date with all the latest, events, fundraisers and volunteers over the coming months!

Another way in which my family has been involved with the Rosie May Foundation is when my Dad, Richard Burchfield, ran the Oxford Half Marathon in 2019 and raised £330 for the foundation. Having first heard about the charity at the annual charity performances, he commented on the couples “generosity to provide the sponsorship to a child” and “as both of my daughters, Alice and Katie, benefit from MTH! I felt that I would like to assist in any small way that I could. The story of Rosie May is one that pulls on the heartstrings, especially as a parent, but remembering the tragedy that Mary and Graham went through, plus the positives that they have taken from this helped me immensely during mornings of training”. When discussing this with him, he said his main motivation was “primarily, Mary and Graham. Having met them, seeing their generosity, drive and ongoing creativity to make a difference be in it Sri Lanka or in the UK during the COVID pandemic is something that endears you to them.” My Dad said that the story of Rosie May “gets you every time so being able to associate with the charity in some way is a no brainer in my mind”. There are loads of ways you can get involved too, look out for an upcoming post for more details.

Richard Burchfield and our dog Trevor. “They provided a RMF shirt for my run which i wore, and still do, with a lot of pride while i run”

As our conversation progressed, he went on to speak about the support that the foundation offered for him, saying the founders were “role models, heroes and inspiring”, “It is hard to explain but when you are with Mary and Graham you feel privileged to be within their circle. The strength they must have is extraordinary… How they have channeled this for the better good is beyond belief with results visible to all. If people ask me who inspires me, then Mary and Graham are top of my list!”. Regarding support during his training process, he said that “showing an interest in how I was doing, prior to and after was extremely heartwarming”. He felt like he was “part of the extended Rosie May Foundation family and so appreciated what I was doing for them.” Richard finished by saying that they were “An amazing couple who quite simply make a difference! Not many people really do this.”

From running half marathons to performing in showcases my family and I are excited to continue to work with the foundation in any way we can. I wrote an article about the foundation’s establishment and the tragedy that the couple experienced, which will be posted onto the blog section of rosie-may.com soon and am excited to continue writing regular posts for them, updating everyone on their newest projects and fundraisers.

In the future, I intend to explore the opportunities for me and my family to possibly visit one of the projects in Sri Lanka or Nepal, but more on that hopefully in the months to come…

Sushma’s leap of Faith Raises £3200!

Read how Sushma Kotecha supported the Rosie May Foundation.

I am the Manging Partner at our Nottingham office. Stowe Family Law is the UKs largest specialist family law firm. The team help clients and families going through a relationship break-up in the Nottingham and surrounding arears with family law issues including divorce, cohabitation disputes, civil partnerships, resolving financial claims and arrangements for children. This is often at one of the most vulnerable and difficult times in their lives. With over 25 years’ experience in family law, I have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience. I believe in a holistic approach to divorce and separation as this alleviates stress and anxiety. Empathy and compassion is the key to great service. We work together to achieve goals and agree on a strategy that is tailored to our client’s individual circumstances and needs.

How I became involved in the Rosie May Foundation

I met one of the lovely trustees of the Rosie May Foundation John Elliott (brings back happy memories!) at the Leicester Mercury Business Awards a couple of years back – the good old days, when we could all go out and socialise! He introduced me to Mary and the charity when I declared my love for yoga as the Rosie May Foundation runs yoga retreats in Sri Lanka and Nepal to raise funds and awareness.

The devastating story behind this wonderful foundation is one that gripped the nation in December 2003 – when John told me about the charity and recalled the story about Rosie May, I remembered it instantly….I felt touched and had a compulsion to meet with Mary too, explore how we could support the charity. The horrific tragedy has blossomed in Rosie May’s memory into a marvellous charity that gives young girls and women in less fortunate countries hope and a lifeline to flourish. Very empowering and inspiring.

Why I took a Leap of Faith

I approached Mary with the idea of the Leap of Faith tandem parachute jump as I felt that we had a synergy in the services that we provide and what the foundation does to support vulnerable young girls and women. The concept that tough and challenging decisions are made more bearable with the right support network fits well with the work that both Stowe Family Law and the Rosie May Foundation are doing. The Leap of Faith jump represents the enormous choices that we need to make that are sometimes our own and others that are made with the support of experts, either way, we have to have confidence in the experts around us.

I felt sheer excitement and joy with a tiny bit of trepidation on the day! After the jump, I felt ecstatic and extremely proud of all of us who took the jump for such a worthy cause. It was a thrilling and exhilarating experience – I recommend it to everyone! 😉

Sushma’s jump raised over £3200 for the Rosie May Foundation.


Female Farmers Supporting Women to expand their skills to further embed them into their local community. Help fund the 2nd floor of the community building where the collective is selling produce and help hundreds of families gain fresh produce.	The Future is Pink Training mums to drive tuk tuks for other mums and children, help provide personal safety for over 300 women and girls every week. Your donation will help fund training for more drivers and the manufacturing of more pink tuk tuks which are so desperately needed
	Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives We have been working tirelessly to respond to the challenges of Coronavirus and have offered help to those in our local community. We are using “Rosie the Little Pink Tuk Tuk” to help vulnerable families by training volunteers and delivering essential goods.
Girls Can Surf In the 2004 Asian tsunami, many people grew fearful of water and 80% of those who drowned in Sri Lanka in the tsunami were women and children (Oxfam). The project aims to educate women on water safety and provide empowerment to allow them to become positive role models by challenging cultural barriers.	Keeping families in the Community This project aims to reintegrate survivors of trafficking into families and prevent the most vulnerable from being trafficked again, by strengthening families in the community. The project also aims to ensure all girls complete their secondary education ( up to age 18).