In Collaboration with
This year at GemFest we used our platform and infrastructure to raise over £5,500 for these three charities.
HEALS of Malmesbury
A small charity based in Malmesbury, the town GemFest is located in.
They support individuals and families in Malmesbury and surrounding villages who may be in poverty, vulnerable or disadvantaged.
They help people make positive change by accessing local services and hardship support and work in partnership with a number of local organisations including the Co-op, Waitrose, the Malmesbury & District Foodbank, Malmesbury Area Community Trust and Wiltshire Council.
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Martin Price, Chair of HEALS Fundraising, Heals of Malmesbury
“The support from the entire GemFest team has been phenomenal from start to finish. One of the most memorable moments was them taking one of our young adults, who has been supported by HEALS, under their wing for the week. He was given the opportunity to experience the festival build, work behind the scenes and be part of the team. It was an experience he’ll never forget and one that has given him confidence, skills and memories that will stay with him for life. The money raised through the guest ticket initiative has enabled us to send 100 adults and children to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol. Families who otherwise would have had very little, if anything, to look forward to over the summer.
GemFest also kindly allocated us a pitch for our HEALS gazebo, giving us a fantastic opportunity to meet festival-goers, raise awareness of our work and engage with the community. On top of that, they generously donated VIP tickets for next year’s festival, which we raffled to raise additional funds, alongside the VIP tickets allocated to us this year.
Thank you to everyone involved for such a wonderful, inspiring and genuinely life-changing experience. Your kindness and generosity will make a real difference to the lives of the children, young people and families we support.
We very much hope this is the beginning of a long partnership and would be delighted to work with you all again next year.”
Doorway, Chippenham
A small charity based in Malmesbury, the town GemFest is located in.
They support individuals and families in Malmesbury and surrounding villages who may be in poverty, vulnerable or disadvantaged.
They help people make positive change by accessing local services and hardship support and work in partnership with a number of local organisations including the Co-op, Waitrose, the Malmesbury & District Foodbank, Malmesbury Area Community Trust and Wiltshire Council.
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Jon Yates, CEO, Doorway Wiltshire
"Modern charitable work relies on partnerships to succeed. This often involves wonderful people doing incredible things and benefitting communities as a result and we are so grateful to be a partner of the good folk behind GemFest. The work we do at Doorway to combat homelessness relies on donations of funds and equipment but also on the time and understanding of such people and we have received all this and more from this partnership. The festival goers had a marvellous time and this will result in the people we support receiving the vital help that they need. Thank you and we are already looking forward to GemFest 2027.”
Climate Live
Engage
Enlarge the global movement by engaging with a new audience through music.
A global youth-led organisation using concerts & festival campaigns to engage a new audience with the climate movement through music.
Raise Awareness
Raise awareness of the challenges faced today by people on the front line of ecological breakdown, and the predictions by scientists for the future.
Educate
Educate more people about why they are facing so many climate-related challenges.
Empower
Pressure world leaders (political, economic and cultural) to take action to combat the climate crisis, with a focus on COP30.
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The Climate Live Team, Climate Live
“What a week. Climate Live was honoured to be part of this little GemFest world, a place where music, creativity and community came together under one roof.
There was a real sense that everyone was there for the same reason: to have a brilliant time, look after each other, and create the kind of memories that stay with you long after the gates have closed. In a time when so many community spaces have disappeared, festivals like GemFest feel more important than ever, places where people can reconnect, be themselves, and find a little bit of magic.
The music was unforgettable, with incredible performances on the bus from both emerging artists and established favourites, including Original Sin, Shirley Temper, Jolie P, Drinks On Me, Sexy Lady Massive, DRIIA and Berra. The crowds kept coming, the energy never dipped, and every performance was a reminder that music has the power to move people in more ways than one.
Off the stage, our workshops were just as popular. From doof stick making and USB decorating to sound baths and meditation, every session was packed and gave festival goers the chance to slow down, connect, and create something together whilst having a safe space to chat about sustainability, climate anxiety and social justice issues within the music industry.
We left with full hearts, a great tan, slightly flatter tires from all the dancing and bouncing on the top deck, and more hope than ever that festivals can be places where culture, community and climate action go hand in hand.
Good for the soul being at an independent festival as great as GemFest.”
Our Goal
To support causes locally and nationwide, ensuring GemFest does its part for the local area in Wiltshire, and supporting causes we believe in globally.
We’ll be following up with specific goals and targets we’re working toward hand in hand with these charities in individual posts highlighting each organisation, but for now…
How can you help?
Head over to the pages linked, follow and share their content to spread awareness.
If you want to consider donating to these causes, you can learn more about them and consider your options over on their websites.
Think about your travel options to the festival, and other festivals this summer – can you take public transport? Do you need two cars or can you and your friends squeeze into one?
