Registered Charity
NEWS
Recent and Future Events
​UPCOMING EVENTS
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Online ‘Mini-Courses’ with Jill
Rolling programme - next event dates to be confirmed - weekday afternoons in March 2026
Developing Inner Companionship through Song
Who are they for? Anyone who has a copy of our book (Unlocking the Power of Song: A Companion for Challenging Times by Jill Rakusen), whether they’re new to this approach, or ‘old hands’; anyone with health or care challenges particularly welcome
What’s involved? Each course involves just two evening or afternoon sessions, and is complete in itself, though much can be gained by attending more than one course. They will help you gain experience of the Four Key Elements described in Chapter 9, and in particular with selecting a song companion and then exploring how it can offer illumination and support in your life. The sessions are run by Jill and/or Caroline.
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'It was wonderful, I loved it! and I wasn’t initially feeling like attending because I was drawn to going out for a walk instead!’
‘It was really really helpful. I really bonded with the book (because it’s such a big book, I’d found it a bit daunting initially), and I worked out how to access the recordings. I also got a lot from hearing what others had to say’
'Lovely time. Got a lot out of it. Looking forward to being with that song/exploring more on my own’
NB No musical or vocal expertise is needed, and no-one is required to sing to the rest of the online group.
NB People need to attend both sessions of whichever course(s) they attend. And you can attend as many times as you want.
Price: the fee is nominal – a donation of £10 for each course – but bursaries are still available for the seriously overstretched (and for those who aren’t please feel free to add a bit extra to help us keep providing bursaries – both for courses and books)
Payment: you can pay either by Bank Transfer:
National Foundation for Giving Voice 09-06-66 41174782
Or by PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/nfgv
What you will need: you will need a copy of the book with you, a reasonably good internet/zoom connection, and to be in a space where you can avoid interruption. If you are ill and in bed, or need to be lying down, that’s fine.
Please book in good time (places will be limited)
Please email us if you would like to attend Info@givingvoicefoundation.org.uk
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There will be two more mini courses later in the year; the next one will be on two consecutive WEDNESDAY afternoons in MAY, dates to be fixed to accommodate those taking part (if you’d like to join this course, do let us know ASAP which dates would suit you).
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Giving Voice for Peace every month
These sessions with Caroline are now alternating between Thursdays and Tuesdays, 7.15pm for 7.30pm:
These short sessions are for people who desire peace – in our lives and in the world – and who also wish to develop (greater) skill in finding and promoting it, to strengthen the capacity to resist its opposite, and who are open to learning how song can support and teach us in this regard.
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Forthcoming dates: Tues 24th February, Thurs 19th March, Tues April 21st, Thurs May 21st, Tues Jun 16th
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Cost: free, but donations v welcome. Contact us to book.
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​News
Jill appeared in Action for ME's InterAction Magazine
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Our founder Jill Rakusen was invited to write a piece for Action for ME's InterAction magazine (winter 2024 edition) about how ME drew her in to a new relationship with music, and song in particular. Shared here and on our Facebook page.
We'd like to welcome any InterAction readers to our site, and potentially to our community. We know that our existing members and supporters will make you very welcome. Jill has lived with post-viral fatigue syndrome for over 30 years and Giving Voice – the approach she developed – has been a resource that many people living with ME and other chronic conditions have found very useful. ​​​​​​​​​​​
If you'd like to register your interest in a taster session do send us an email to info@givingvoicefoundation.org.uk; follow us on our Facebook page; have a look at our book Unlocking the Power of Song: A Companion for Challenging Times and have a look at our lovely blog posts about how Giving Voice has helped people over many years, and browse the rest of our website.
For the InterAction article, Jill was also asked to share about a seasonal song. She chose Silent Night and we have created a blog post with more information and some soulful recordings.​​​​​
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PAST EVENTS
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​Starting the Year with a Song in our Hearts
In-person Giving Voice event in Leeds
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Saturday 10 January 2026, 11am - 4pm
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With Jill Rakusen, Caroline Thorpe and Rachel Healey
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Venue: a supporter’s home in Roundhay, Leeds LS8
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Cost: £10 donation; or if finance is a barrier, pay what you can.
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Bring warm, comfortable clothing & food to share for lunch.
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We don't do many in-person events, so do consider coming! We can then support you remotely to integrate the power of song into your life, and in the world, throughout the year!
Wifi-free venue, phones off please.
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ONLINE ‘MINI-COURSES’ onDeveloping Inner Companionship through Song with Jill and Caroline
SAT 6th DEC and SAT 13th DEC 2025
5:45 for 6.00pm until 8.00pm
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EARTH DAY: Creating Hope
TUESDAY APRIL 22nd (Easter Tuesday) 2025
Focus: EARTH DAY: Creating Hope using the Giving Voice Process – In-person event for anyone
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December 2022
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online mini course on
Developing Inner Companionship through Song with Jill and Caroline
October 2022
Developing our Inner Resources for Challenging Times through Unlocking the Power of Song
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Saturday 15th October, 10:30 to 1pm in Heeley Sheffield. Led by Caroline Thorpe
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For more information and booking please contact Caroline
September 2022
Caroline is offering a session in the Findhorn Unitarian Network their zoom meditation series. This open to anyone and takes place on Saturday 24 September at 10:00 am, or on Tuesday 27th September at 9:30 am. Please respond to funtomeditate@gmail.com indicating which session you want - you may register for both.
June 2022
In June, Caroline shared Say I Love You to the World (No. 19 from our book) with the Unitarian Women’s League in Sheffield. People were surprised they didn’t need to sing, “Wasn’t at all what I expected, and I really enjoyed it”.
Also in June, Caroline joined Rachel in sharing All the Doors of my House (No. 16 from our book) at a women’s summer camp. Although it was only a half-hour session squeezed in between other events, it was clear from the responses afterwards how many people had a surprisingly profound experience.
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Developing your Inner Resources through Song - Special Online Event
In June we offered a special online event for Being Well in Suffolk’s Life Lounge, where Jill Rakusen, founder of Giving Voice (GV), introduced this unique and invaluable resource for life.
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At the event Jill shared how she created and developed this approach for her own needs when challenged by illness, how she began teaching it to others, and how they in turn have gone on to use it in their lives, often to powerful effect. She offered a brief ‘taster’, together with pointers on how the experience could be built on after the event. Author of our new book, Unlocking the Power of Song – A Companion for Challenging Times, she gave an idea of what it can offer. Forged with love, it’s a beautiful, companionable resource that's full of inspirational stories of how people have used GV in their lives, plus clear step-by-step guidance and ‘handy hints’ on how you can do this too. And much else besides.
If you would like us to offer a similar event for you and your friends or organisation, let us know. Copies of the book can be made available at a discount for people who attend.
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April 2022
In April Jill gave a brief five-minute introduction to the book for Action for Elders’ Book Group, and it was voted ‘best book’ out of the books introduced that day. Here’s a video of what she said –
This was recorded during an extremely hot day in March, hence Jill’s sunhat.
It’s an amateur video with background noises; however, feedback has encouraged us to share it here, even though the camera pans around people’s feet to protect their privacy.
More info about the song, and what it can offer in our lives using the Giving Voice Process, can be found in our book.