Southampton charities to get a boost from ukulele record attempt

Southampton charities to get a boost from ukulele record attempt

As we previously reported Southampton Ukulele Jam (SUJ), the hardest working ukulele jam in Southampton, are planning to set a UK record “The UKe-athon: Longest Marathon Ukulele Jam (UK)”.
All proceeds will be shared between No Limits (Southampton), Yellow Door, The Society of St James and Mountbatten Hospice.

You can watch them attempt to play for more than 24hrs, continuously at in the historic and beautiful God’s House Tower (GHT) from 09:30 – 21:30 on Saturday the 9th, and from 10:00 on Sunday the 10th of August until the, hoped for finale around 16:00.

The main aim is to raise lots of money for local charities supporting vulnerable people in Southampton.

Each charity has shared the following messages of support:

 

Yellow Door

“Yellow Door is a local charity that provides free trauma-informed services for people impacted by domestic and sexual abuse. Starting 40 years ago as a small volunteer-led helpline for women that had been raped or sexually assaulted, we now provide a range of services including: 

  • therapy and counselling for adults, children, young people, and families
  • a specialist sexual violence advocacy service (ISVA) and impartial advice about the criminal justice system
  • group recovery programmes
  • outreach and support for people with protected characteristics
  • specialist advocacy working to address barriers, improve access, and promote equality and inclusion for anyone who may be marginalised or disadvantaged in accessing services
  • preventative education and healthy relationships work in schools and youth settings


In 2024/25 Yellow Door supported 4,772 people in their recovery from abuse. Donations from this event will help us to continue to provide our vital services to the Southampton and Hampshire community for free, supporting us to promote healthy relationships, prevent harm, and help to rebuild lives. Southampton Ukulele Jam have been ongoing community champions of Yellow Door and their support and efforts have been instrumental. Their passion to make Southampton a better place for abuse survivors and victims’ is inspirational and we are extremely grateful of their continued support.

 

Society of St James

SUJ have been long-time supporters of SSJ, bringing colour, energy and joy to a subject that is often anything but. We’re so grateful for the way they help shine a light on homelessness with compassion and creativity – and this latest record-breaking plan is no exception.

SSJ exists to prevent, relieve and ultimately end homelessness in our local community. We do this by supporting people to access whatever they need to move forward – whether that’s a safe place to live, support with drug/alcohol addictions, meaningful activity, help into employment or simply a listening ear.

Donations raised through the ukulele marathon will help us build the kind of supportive infrastructure that really changes lives – from practical help like clothes for a job interview or a rent deposit, to providing activities that spark confidence and self-belief, like hobbies, sports, or certificated courses that lead to volunteering or employment. They could also help fund the behind-the-scenes essentials that keep our work running smoothly – the kind of solid foundations that make all the life-changing stuff possible.

And while we’re not saying ukuleles are essential to ending homelessness, the joy, energy and community this event and the jammers themselves will bring is exactly the kind of spirit we need more of. Thank you for having us along for the jam.

 

Mountbatten

Mountbatten Hampshire is at the heart of our community, providing 24/7 end-of-life care in people’s homes across large parts of the county, in our inpatient unit and through our Hazel Centre community space in West End, Southampton. We love working with the brilliant Southampton Ukulele Jam, who have twice played concerts in our Hazel Centre.

Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE, said: “Good luck to this amazing bunch of entertaining musicians on their record-breaking attempt. We are so very grateful Southampton Ukulele Jam has chosen Mountbatten Hampshire among charities to support.

“Around one-third funded by the NHS through the integrated care board, our hospice charity is at least two-thirds funded by our community. This is a brilliantly creative way to help us gather the money we need to continue to provide expert, compassionate and dignified care to people at their most vulnerable, and their families and friends.”

 

No Limits

No Limits has been working for more than 30 years to provide children and young people in Hampshire with free, confidential and non-judgemental support. Reaching around 7,000 children and young people each year, we aim to provide help holistically, supporting each young person with all the issues that they might be facing, including mental health, homelessness, relationships, employment, substance use and more. 

The Southampton Ukulele Jam have kindly supported No Limits for a few years, and we are very proud to be one of their chosen charities for this epic ukulele event! 100% of any money donated to No Limits will go back into helping local children and young people, through things like counselling, peer support groups and youth work at locations throughout Hampshire as well as at our two Southampton advice centres. Thank you to the brilliant Ukulele Jam for your support and helping us help young people build a brighter future.

 

Please check out the Southampton Ukulele Jam Facebook page, which will be soon updated with details on how you can donate,  and for more on how you can get involved.  

SUJ are also asking local businesses, for sponsorship in cash or kind, in return for a big plug on the live stream and social media.

For more information, email sotonukejam@gmail.com or use their contact page. 

 

Contacts

Yellow door: supportus@yellowdoor.org.uk 

Mountbatten: Lucy.Morgan@mountbatten.org.uk & chrissie.dawson@mountbatten.org.uk 

Society of St James: michelle.jeffery@ssj.org.uk 

No Limits: Kat.Hutchings-Hall@nolimitshelp.org.uk 

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