Organisations
I can support you and your team with bespoke playful facilitation; creative coaching and wellbeing; and fundraising and strategy.
According to Brian Sutton-Smith the opposite of play isn't work, it's depression. Play comes in all shapes and guises and being playful is often seen as the antithesis of productivity but what if I told you it would help you and your team to become more productive, engaged, communicative, trusting and innovative?
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Read on to find out how I can help you. Or click on the links below to get in touch.​​​​​​​​
Playful Facilitation
Play can take lots of different forms, it can involve movement, games, storytelling, metaphor, LEGO, guided meditation, breath work and so much more. Whatever the approach it grounds your autonomic nervous system allowing you to feel present and connected to yourself and those around you. Magical things happen when we play, it levels the playing field and we become more open to others, ideas flow and we feel safe taking a risk and trying new things. ​
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I can work with you and your team to design and deliver sessions that will achieve serious outcomes playfully. To find out more click on the links below.
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"Jennie designed and facilitated a bespoke two-hour play session for WRKWLL’s biannual away day to help our associates build trust and connection and review our values (one of which is being playful).
The session was a combination of games, movement and breath work that seamlessly led us to a final group discussion about our shared values which we were then able to use as a springboard to dig even deeper.
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We loved Jennie's session which brought maximum play and energy to guide us through some really tricky thinking and we left feeling energised, inspired and connected with each other." Emily Lomax, Co-Founder of WRKWLL​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Creative Coaching & Wellbeing
I can offer you and your team the space and time to connect with the body, reflect, figure things out and build confidence, clarity and motivation. I call it creative coaching because I like to respond to what's happening for you in the moment. I can help you to slow things down and notice what's showing up in the body as well as the mind. By connecting with your body you can learn to listen to the innate wisdom you hold within yourself. Then with your thinking brain back on you can being to get clearer about where you've been, where you'd like to go next and most importantly what needs to happen so you can get there. If this sounds like something you'd like to learn more about then please get in touch by clicking on the links below. ​
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“The participants loved Jennie's wellbeing session and commented that they found it an inspiring and relaxing space to explore new ways of connecting to their bodies and thoughts. It was the perfect addition to the week of music making. Jennie went above and beyond, not only delivering her session but taking the time to do more 1-1 coaching and mentoring chats with artists who required additional support throughout the rest of the week and taking a real interest in their music and creative development.” Grace Pitkin, Programming and Talent Development Manager, Serious​​​​​​​​​​
Fundraising and Strategy
Fundraising and strategy often go hand in hand. You need a long-term plan so that you can speak confidently to where you're headed. In order to have people to sell your long-term goals to you also need to understand how to leverage your network so that you can grow it and raise more funds for your organisation or project. Often there's little time or capacity for either of these things so ​if you'd like support with being more strategic and/or generating more income for your organisation this is something I can help you with. Click on the links below to get in touch.
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"With her extensive experience, Jennie ran a refreshing and engaging online session for Youth Music focused on helping attendees to understand how they could effectively leverage their networks to raise more funds. It was a dynamic, playful and interactive 90 mins which was really well received. We are now commissioning Jennie for some follow up coaching sessions to help our partners further their fundraising approach." Carol Reid, Programme Director, Youth Music​​​
Career Highlights
2023 - present
Freelance
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Since stepping down as CEO of the Abram Wilson charity I've been designing and facilitating bespoke sessions for organisations like WRKWLL joining them as an associate, Youth Music and Serious. I've consulted for organisations like the Ormiston Trust, reviewing and making recommendations for the roll out of an expressive arts programme across 40 academies. I've built a roster of entrepreneurial coaching and mentoring clients and I've tested and rolled out an assembly and workshop to accompany my children's book 'Becoming Brave'. I'm also a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator.
2012 – 2023
Abram Wilson Charity
Founder & CEO
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This was an organisation I founded after my husband Abram died. Over a decade later I'd raised £1M to support our work, was listed in WISE100, a national index recognising the top women in social enterprise, and won a Talent Award from WACL (a membership body of female leaders in advertising and communications).
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I partnered with an array of individuals and organisations – ranging from educational institutions to music studios, venues and funding bodies including Jools Holland, Nitin Sawhney OBE, GIlles Peterson, Soho House, Spitfire Audio, We Out Here, Church of Sound, and the Co-op Academies Trust.
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I coached and mentored musicians who went on to sign with Sony Music, Brownswood, Scenic Route, Decca, New Soil, jazz re:freshed, ETLWRecords, the Orchard and AWAL.They were also nominated and won industry awards including the Mercury Prize, the Jazz FM Awards, Worldwide Awards, Ivor Novello Awards, Guardian Album of the Year, Steve Reid Innovation Awards, and Youth Music Charity Awards.
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I spearheaded the design and delivery of our music education and career development programmes for minoritised communities – working with hundreds of performing artists and young people through workshops and 1:1 support, and over 10,000 pupils through our primary school programme.​
2011 – 2012
Abram Wilson
Artist Manager & Booking Agent
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Highlights for this period included booking a 20 date UK tour with two separate bands and projects; securing Abram positions as Associate Artist at B:Music (formerly Birmingham Town & Symphony Hall) and Turner Sims Professor at Southampton University; and being awarded Arts Council England funding to develop a new jazz-theatre production.
2011 – 2014
National Centre for Circus Arts
Head of Fundraising
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One of my biggest achievements while working as Head of Development at the National Centre for Circus Arts was securing a multi-six figure donation over three years from a new major donor. A portion of this was diverted towards the organisation’s first major gala for their 25th anniversary. This leveraged an additional £100,000.
2009 – 2011
Tomorrow’s Warriors
Learning & Development Manager
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This is where I met my late husband Abram who was Assistant Artistic Director at the time and signed to their sister company Dune Music. My proudest achievement was working with the directors to establish a free weekend programme at the Southbank Centre consisting of jazz workshops, ensembles and jam sessions for aspiring musicians, which still exists today. Some of the early alumni of this programme have gone on to become award-winning internationally recognised artists including Nubya Garcia, Ezra Collective, Kokoroko, Moses Boyd and Theon Cross.