|
On behalf of the Trustees of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal I want to thank you for your previous support for a memorial statue for Mary Clarke in Brighton. We hope you will forgive us for asking for your help once again.
|
|
|
We have attached a brief Update about the campaign so far. We now seek your support for a targeted post-pandemic appeal we are naming RaiseMary1000.
|
|
Writer Peter James Supports RaiseMary1000
|
|
|
We have received many hundreds of smaller donations, but only a few larger ones. Just recently we were grateful to receive two separate donations of £1,000, one of which was from writer Peter James (left), our newest Patron. It occurred to us that if we could identify just thirty five people to do the same, we would meet our target of £35,000.
|
|
|
|
So, with Peter James’ endorsement, we are appealing to our supporters and previous donors, to help us reach our goal by pledging:
- to donate £1,000, ideally no later than 12 December 2022 (Mary’s birthday) OR
- to work with others to do so.
https://localgiving.org/raisemary1000
|
|
|
Some supporters may be in a position to ‘raise one thousand’ on their own. Others, like our young fundraisers Izzy and Sophia Kilburn (right), may choose to organise others - friends, family or work colleagues - to raise substantial amounts. Some may be able to identify a business or firm to act as a corporate donor. We would be grateful for any help you can give.
|
|
|
|
Our sculptor Denise Dutton (left) is now at work on the statue for Mary Anning in Lyme Regis, which will be unveiled later this year. We hope that, not long after she completes that statue, she will be able to programme work on the statue of Mary Clarke. Our very ambitious, tentative target for unveiling Mary’s statue is 2nd July 2023, marking the 95th anniversary of the passing of the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928, which gave all women the Vote.
|
|
|
|
We hope you may be able to help us meet that target - and use the opportunity to raise awareness of Mary’s life and sacrifice, so we need no longer call her “A Woman Hidden from History”. A background report of that title is attached for your information.
|
|
|
How to Donate and Fundraise with Others
|
|
|
If you want to raise money for the RaiseMary1000 as a registered LocalGiving Fundraiser (which we would recommend if you are raising money from others) please go to: https://localgiving.org/fundraisers. We have a RaiseMary1000 Appeal page which you can visit, with ideas for fundraising.
Alternatively, if you prefer to collect without registering with LocalGiving, you can do so, organising giving via our website www.maryclarkestatue.com, in the usual way, or by BACS or cheque if preferred. However you fundraise, please keep us updated via the email address below so we can publicise your efforts via our website and supply you with leaflets.
|
|
|
If you wish to raise money in groups you can do so via: sporting challenges; walks; runs; cake sales; keeping a ‘swear-bottle’; dress down days at school or work; or sponsored silences - really anything at all. Please make sure you include the words “Mary Clarke Statue Appeal” on any information you hand out, with our charity number: 1185845. Please also direct people to our website www.maryclarkestatue.com and share any information you like from it (other internet sources are often inaccurate.) If you are able to use social media, please do so, sharing fundraising links and any photos and videos, using hashtag #maryclarke and our twitter handle @mary_statue.
|
|
|
|
LocalGiving has just announced Local Hero 2022, a challenge to charity fundraisers, which will run throughout April 2022. LocalGiving will reward fundraisers who attract most donations, with cash prizes to their chosen charity. The top prize is, you guessed it, £1,000 - though there are smaller prizes for runners up.
If you are able to help - in April or at any other time - or have any queries please let me know at jeancalder.mcsa@gmail.com or on 07793 608307. For further information please read the brief Update below and visit our RaiseMary1000 page https://localgiving.org/raisemary1000
Thank you again for all your help and support.
All good wishes,
Jean
Jean Calder
Chair of Trustees
|
|
|
The Mary Clarke Statue Appeal - Background and Brief Update
|
|
|
In the first eighteen months of our Appeal, we worked hard to achieve widespread community support and the unanimous all-party support of Brighton & Hove City Council. We established a formidable group of well-known Patrons (including three local M.P.s; a member of the House of Lords; a Deputy Lieutenant; a broadcaster and writer; and two internationally known experts on the suffrage movement). We also successfully fundraised for costs of startup and a maquette; built a website; engaged a sculptor; agreed a design for the statue; and achieved charitable status.
|
|
|
Since the pandemic began in early 2020, we have:
- commissioned and paid for a bronze maquette or model (below), made by our sculptor Denise Dutton to the exact design of the proposed statue, and displayed it in various secure settings around the city (along with a second resin maquette which, having less value, can be displayed more freely)
- Added to our wonderful existing group of Patrons by three new appointments: writer Peter James; Archdeacon of Brighton, Hove and Lewes, Martin Lloyd Williams; and prominent historian Professor Julie Gottlieb of Sheffield University (our third historian patron)
- appointed two adult Ambassadors, Terri Bell Halliwell of statue campaign inVISIBLEwomen and Howard Spencer of Historic England
- Begun work with schools and recruited our marvellous first five Child/Junior Ambassadors from three local schools: River Isaac (below with Cllrs Steph Powell and Martin Osborne; Lena and Sylvie Goulden Mackerron; and Izzy and Sophia Kilburn.
- Continued to provide information and presentations to local community groups and businesses
- Raised media awareness of Mary’s life and sacrifice at a local and national level, leading to articles in local and national newspapers, such as The Times, and other media outlets, including radio and television, such as BBC Sussex and Women’s Hour, as well as magazines such as Elle and, latterly, Sussex Life
- fundraised a further £15,000 to pay for the statue, despite being unable to organise events, leaving our current shortfall of £35,000.
|
|
|
|
