Inspiring and Empowering Young Women

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Ashdon Jazz Academy; every donation will help. Thank you in advance for contributing to this cause which means so much to me.

Patricia Muirhead started the charity in 2015 a year after the tragic death of her daughter Ashdon who ended her life aged 14 years. As a teenager Ashdon (who liked to be called “Jazz”) struggled with peer pressure, peer aggression at school and lacking confidence about being herself in a society that pressurises young women to be and act a certain way. A key focus of our charity’s work is to engage with vulnerable young women aged 11-21, to empower them to feel confident about themselves, develop personal life skills and learn strategies to manage challenges such as peer pressure, body image and bullying.

The service was initially set up in the Croydon area but has since expanded to Lewisham, Lambeth and Merton boroughs - now supporting up to 200 young women each year. The charity has 30 active trained, and fully vetted volunteer mentors supporting up to 30 young women at any one time and for up to 12 months.

The Ashdon Jazz Academy also holds a weekly drop-in session on a Wednesday evening where the young women can meet the Project Worker, talk informally about their concerns and get advice or be referred for more specialist help, including mentoring.

The drop-in sessions always involve an activity suggested by the young women – who also take turns cooking for those present. 10-14 young women attend drop-in sessions each week and often invite their friends, but numbers are rising. Activities have included soap making, pottery, glass painting and themed discussions. In addition, the charity delivers young women-only events (e.g. workshops, away weekends and conferences) where girls can explore issues relating to their personal development and safety with female facilitators.

In July 2022, the charity took a group of 15 young women to the Gambia as part of a friendship visit to learn about how young women cope with challenges in another country.

This charity relies heavily on community fundraising to deliver its 1:1 mentoring and drop-in services. Ashdon Jazz Academy would appreciate any donations you can make to ensure they are able to continue providing valuable services to the young women referred to them. This is vitally important, particularly following the pandemic and the high cost of living.

Please support this fantastic cause and help us continue our work in supporting and making a difference in the many lives of young women.

Ashdon Jazz Academy Team