Guildford Jazz is a registered not for profit Community Interest Company. This means that any surpluses from gigs and other activities does not go into anyone’s pocket but has to be used for more jazz!
However, through our gigs we also actively support and raise funds for a number of local charities. To date we have raised over £80,000 for charitable causes.
The Cheryl King Trust
This trust was set up in memory of local sax teacher, Cheryl King, who was actively involved in Guildford Jazz in its early years. It provides funding to inspire and enable children and young people, who would not otherwise be able to afford to do so, to start or continue with music lessons. Click here to learn more about the trust, its work and how you can support it.
Outdoor Summer Events
Our two major summer fundraising events support the work of two other local charities : GUTS, fighting bowel cancer, and the disabled children’s charity Challengers.
Jazz in the Park
In June every year we host an afternoon of jazz in the beautiful walled garden at Losely Park for the bowel cancer charity GUTS . GUTS, aims to improve the survival rates of people with bowel cancer by funding better screening, detection, treatment and facilities, as well as research into the disease. Find out more about GUTS at https://www.gutsfbc.co.uk/ . Our Summer 2019 gig raised over £4000 for the charity.
Click here to watch a video of the event and to find out more about next year’s event. Come along to Jazz in the Park and help support GUTS next year.
Photo by Nick Webb
Wood Street Jazz Festival
July usually sees us hosting the annual Wood Street Jazz Festival . This takes place in a large Marquee at Wood Street Village Green. Think Pimms, Real Ale and picnics
The Wood Street Jazz Festival is in aid of the local charity Challengers which provides vital play and leisure opportunities and parental support for local disabled children and young people. Learn more about Challengers here.
In 2022 the festival raised a whopping £12,000 for Challengers. Find out more about next year’s event here and click here to read a review in London Jazz New and get a flavour of the event. Come along and bring your friends next year.
Guildford Philanthropy
Guildford Jazz is also a corporate ambassador and supporter of Guildford Philanthropy which aims to transform the lives of the less fortunate members of our local community and to address the disadvantage that exists on our doorstep. Any profits from Guildford JazzFest 2021 will go to Guildford Philanthropy.
Visit the Guildford Philanthropy website to learn more.
Guildford Lottery
Guildford Jazz is itself registered as a beneficiary of the Guildford Community Lottery. If you would like to play the lottery and nominate Guildford Jazz as your chosen “good cause” to help fund what we do , please visit the Guildford Lottery website.
Guildford Jazz is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and part of our objectives are to support educational and development opportunities and social and local charitable fund-raising events. Since 2011 we have raised nearly £120,000 for local charities, and we have close links with the Cheryl King (Hirst) Trust which provides funding to inspire and enable children to have music lessons who would not otherwise be able to afford to do so.
We recently became the first arts sector corporate ambassador of Guildford Philanthropy which works with local people disadvantaged by disability, mental illness, poor education or caring responsibilities.