Journey to Justice is 10 years old!
At Conway Hall, London on June 21st 2014 Journey to Justice was officially launched.
On Saturday 21st September we celebrated with a joyful party at Friends House, London.
It was wonderful to see so many old friends and new at the party, both in person and via Zoom!
After a warm welcome to all from our Chair, Tania Aubeelack, we were delighted to listen to Carrie Supple, our beloved founder, a constant inspiration and brilliant enabler.
As a volunteer-led organisation we are proud and pleased to celebrate our achievements and the creative partnerships we’ve had with so many memorable people and organisations for more than ten years.
Tania Aubeelack, Chair of JtoJ, holding the celebration booklet for Mark Hutchinson ‘father’ of JtoJ and a beautiful birthday card sent by Trish Kelly, artist and long-time JtoJ supporter.
Journey to Justice was created by people who believe in the power of ‘ordinary people’ to uphold and promote human rights for everyone.
We are only too aware of how much there is to do to promote and realise human rights for all in the next ten years and more……….
It was our privilege to welcome to the party, Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, our distinguished patron, human rights lawyer and JtoJ supporter. He inspired us all with his opening speech at our launch in June 2014.
On Saturday he again spoke upliftingly about the need for Journey to Justice because,
‘Journey to Justice puts action for human rights into practice rather than talking in theory.’
Music and the arts are an integral part of JtoJ and human rights activism. We enjoyed beautiful songs from JtoJ supporters including Rona Topaz singing ‘A Change Gonna Come’ and Jane Wheeler who led us singing, ‘One Day, One Day’! with hope in our hearts.
Speakers from the floor and on Zoom – Janet Browne, our first Vice-Chair who with Black Cultural Archives supported the fledgling JtoJ, Will Essilfie, ex-trustee and educator, Abi Rhodes, trustee and Economic Injustice Coordinator, Duncan Moore, trustee and Mark Hutchinson’s cousin. Also young people from youth group BANG and The Winch and Fevzi Hussein of CWU told us how they first became involved in JtoJ and what JtoJ means to them.
Feedback from people at the celebration was very warm and positive:
“I was blown away and emotional hearing the impacts JtoJ has had. It’s an extraordinary thing.”
“What an achievement! Ten years. It’s such an incredible effort by everyone to establish such an excellent charity…You’ve sown an amazing community seed. I want to find a way to be more involved again.”
“It was gorgeous. Full of heart and soul and humble pride.”
“As the Journey to Justice team, your passion is infectious and your drive to make a difference is inspiring”
Treasured Mark Hutchinson, ‘father’ of JoJ was very much with us in spirit at the party.
A year since Mark died, Duncan (JtoJ trustee & Mark’s cousin) spoke movingly about Mark and his huge commitment to making the world a better place.
‘Mark’s was a voice of love, hope and solidarity.’
Though she couldn’t be at this party, here is the wonderful endorsement given to JtoJ by our patron Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC in 2017 at our summer fundraising party:
“Human rights are inextricably bound to social justice. That is essentially what it is all about – improving the lot of every man, woman and child by respecting their humanity. And it is ordinary people who actually give life to human rights by their activities and campaigns for change. That is why I love Journey to Justice. It puts us all on the same road to a better world.”
We’ve received great feedback about the excellent Friends House catering, in particular the delicious ‘Plant the Difference’ lunch.
And of course……it wouldn’t be a birthday party without a cake!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported JtoJ in any way at all over the years. You are many and you are very much appreciated and loved.
Onwards we go!
We would welcome your thoughts and ideas about future work, projects, partnerships you’d like to see Journey to Justice become involved in during the next ten years.
Please reply to: patriciaboyer@hotmail.com or info@journeytojustice.org.uk
Thank you!
