by Sophie Donne
Over the past five weeks, the Amnesty committee have been off their feet, juggling deadlines and university work with the organisation of this year’s Jamnesty sessions. Our aim was simple: provide the best of Sunday afternoon tunes whilst raising money for deserving causes.
After their roaring success at our Jamnesty afterparty in 2020, our first session saw Leeds-based collective No Manors (@nomanorscollective) kick off the series with an upbeat DJ set. Following this was jazz singer Agnes Jeanne (@agnesjeanne_), who returned this year to bring us soulful vibes on a cool April afternoon. For our penultimate session we welcomed a new act to the scene, the energetic six-piece jazz collective Plantfood (@plantfoodthaband), who blew us away with their new world take on musical classics, as well as their own creative masterpieces.
For our final session, which will be live streamed at www.jamnesty.org.uk on Sunday 16th May at 7pm, we welcome established DJ Shauna (@shaunurgh), who will be taking time out of her busy schedule, between her residency at Manchester’s Steam Radio and guest starring on BBC Introducing, to bring us an energetic set in aid of our chosen charities.
As always, our Jamnesty sessions will be raising money for Amnesty International to support their work to end human rights abuses, change oppressive laws and demand justice around the world. However, we will also be donating half of all donations to our chosen local charity, Basis Yorkshire.
Following the tragic death of Sarah Everard in March, the society held a meeting in order to openly discuss how issues concerning women’s safety affect our members and provide a safe space to air any concerns or experiences. When the time came to vote for our chosen charity, the society was overwhelmingly in support of fundraising for a charity that supports vulnerable women.
Basis Yorkshire is a Leeds-based charity which provides support to female and transgender sex workers, victims of sexual abuse and young people vulnerable to sexual exploitation. They aim to "empower people to make safer and healthier choices by offering information, support and options", as well as challenge the stigma and social inequality which affects their service users.
As well as providing invaluable support to vulnerable women, for example by visiting convicted sex workers in prison, assisting with access to legal support, and providing a safe space to discuss daily challenges, Basis also offers courses in safeguarding and works with schools to identify vulnerable children.
In an additional attempt to raise even more money for these incredible charities, we teamed up with designer Claire Baines (@claire_baines2018) to produce some stunning tote bags, featuring a quirky lip design and the caption ‘loud and clear’. For more information on the thought process behind the design, you can watch our interview with Claire at www.jamnesty.org.uk/sessions-archive by viewing the Plantfood episode. You can also catch up on all three of the previously streamed sessions or watch them again, as many times as you like!
All that’s left to say is don’t forget to tune in to the final Jamnesty session of 2021 to see Shauna’s set and find out how to get your hands on your own Jamnesty tote bag.
If you are able to, please also donate here to support Amnesty International and Basis Yorkshire.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday at 7pm at www.jamnesty.org.uk
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