Shirley Fringe community festival a fundraising success

Rose Road was thrilled to be the named charity of the Shirley Fringe festival, a week-long music and entertainment event held at 10 venues along and around Shirley High Street between 1st-7th September.

Through raffles, bucket collections and donations, the Shirley Fringe has raised £5,066 for the charity so far, supporting children and young people across the city with complex physical and learning disabilities. It was incredible to bring this vibrant community together with local businesses and organisations to support a good cause.

Venue collaborations

Organised by Mark and Emma Fay from Clockwork Bar for its second year running, the event saw thousands of people enjoy acts each day, with all the bands, artists and performers giving their time for free at venues including Clockwork Bar, What A Pizza, Craft 101, Overdraft, Santo Lounge, The Wellington Arms, Utilita Hub, Covenant Church, Freemantle and Shirley Community Centre and The Maskers Theatre.

Musical moments

One special moment was a music therapy performance by several young people who use Rose Road’s services. Run by Kathryn Holt from Nordoff & Robbins who leads regular music therapy sessions at Rose Road, it was fantastic to bring young people, families and the community together to enjoy their music-making! We are grateful to the Sheriff of Southampton Patricia Evemy for opening this amazing session.

One family member commented: " It was such a joyful event and one I shall remember with a smile. Thank you to all who made this happen. It made me very emotional”.

Beth Lee, Community Fundraising Manager at Rose Road, said:

“We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Shirley Fringe for choosing to support Rose Road, to the many generous local businesses who donated raffle prizes, to the fantastic local venues and their staff who ensured all the events ran smoothly, to our wonderful staff volunteers and GoodGym Southampton who held collection buckets and sold raffle tickets, and above all to the brilliant local community who so generously donated to help raise over £5,000. It will make a huge difference.”