Our charity music auction has closed, and early indications are that we’ve raised over £30,000!
The auction, organised by Rachel Goswell of 90s shoegaze band Slowdive, featured items from an incredible variety of artists including The Cure, The Cult, My Bloody Valentine and Mogwai.
Rachel called on her musician friends to donate items in order to support our Academy, which not only provides her son Jesse with specialist Deaf education, but also supports his additional needs due to his diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome. The response from bands and musicians on both sides of the pond has been remarkable, with over 100 items given up for auction.Rachel says the new Academy will bring huge benefits for Jesse. ‘The fact that the Academy teaches British Sign Language has been so important for Jesse, giving him language and the ability to communicate. His experience has been great there and we have seen him improve all the time.’
‘He has a long list of needs, but the new site will be able to meet these, with specifically designed therapy rooms and a multi-sensory room which will be fantastic. There are so many aspects to the design of the new Academy, it feels like they have thought of everything they can to meet the varying needs of all their students. It’s a really exciting development.’
Items up for auction included signed guitars from Slowdive and Mogwai, along with screen prints, posters, drum heads, set lists and assorted memorabilia from the likes of The Cure, Ash, Editors, The Cult, Cocteau Twins, Alcest, American Football, Keane, Low, My Bloody Valentine, and a host of other names from across the music industry – even a signed Chas n’ Dave poster. Two signed box sets from The Cure alone reached more than £6,000!
We can’t wait to confirm the final total, hopefully in the next day or two. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who placed a bid, and everyone who donated an item. Every penny we receive will go towards making our new Academy in Exmouth the best it can possibly be for our students.