Gig For Gareth

Well last night saw me take another trip down to London, this time for a "Gig for Gareth" at the Offside Bar in Islington.

It was a great night, although I had to leave early for the long journey back home, so I missed the main band, Playmaker. That said, as disappointing as that was, the evening was not a loss; the warm-up acts were fab and it was good to catch up with some familiar faces and indeed to help the Gareth Butler History Trust. So if you don't mind, I will shamelessly plus this charity as I feel its very much worthwhile.

The Trust was set up last year in memory of Gareth Butler who died suddenly in Feb 2008. One of Gareth's big passions was History and the aim of the Trust is to pay for lower income students for school history trips. Speaking here as someone who has a close relative who teaches history at a Secondary School, and from a family who adores it as a subject, I can tell you that such a project is valuable and beneficial and would help many young people develop an interest. Late last year, my relative was involved in her schools field trip to several WWI battlefields. The questions and interest that developed from the children was invaluable and beneficial, how unfair is it, that if you are unfortunate to come from a low income background, that you don't get the oppurtunity to partake in such an experience!

The thing is, many parents/guardians pay for school trips, as I am sure some of you know and remember. If you came from a middle class background and have fond memories of school field trips, consider yourselves lucky, some don't get the chance and isn't that the great thing about growing up! Having oppurtunities to do things and to learn and find out who you are, what you are capable of and what you want to do? Wouldn't it be great to help make oppurtunites where few exist?

If so, you would be doing no bad thing by donating to the Trust and you can do that via the JustGiving website (see here) and to spread the word. The idea behind this has certainly grabbed my attention as a deeply worthwhile and practical aim and I fail to see how anyone could see differently