Tracey Ford understands the devastating impact that a sudden and violent death of a child has on a family, not least on the mother. In 2007, Tracey’s life was turned upside down when her teenage son, James Andre, was fatally shot while out with friends at a south London ice rink.
Since then, Tracey has worked relentlessly to raise awareness of the destruction that youth-on-youth violence and murder leaves in its wake, reaching out to families who never imagined such tragedy in their lives.
Tracey says: “It got to the point where I couldn’t turn on the TV without hearing about another youth murder on the news. There were roughly 28 in London the year Andre was killed. To see another mother go through what I went though is heart-rending.”
In 2012, Tracey founded the JAGS Foundation (an acronym of her son’s name, James Andre Godfrey Smartt-Ford), a not-for-profit community interest company, as a lasting tribute to her son. As well as giving bereavement support, JAGS has delivered youth awareness and restorative-justice-based programmes in partnership with a number of schools and grassroots organisations, including Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise School, The Forgiveness Project, Croydon Youth Offending Team, and Safer London.
Knowing how it feels to lose a child, and the constant sad reminders that come with personal anniversaries and calendar celebrations such as Mother’s Day, Tracey wanted to do something for the mums she knew who were suffering silently on such days. This year, Tracey set about her first fundraising campaign, Flowers for Mum, to raise enough money to buy at least 10 bouquets of flowers for bereaved mums, which Tracey would deliver on Mother’s Day.
Tracey says: “I wanted to let other mums know that they’re not forgotten. I don’t think many people realise the isolation that these mums feel. Many mums end up laying flowers on their child’s grave on Mother’s Day, when they should be the ones getting flowers.
“I’ve never fundraised before, apart from cupcake sales, but JustGiving Crowdfunding was recommended to me, especially as this isn’t the kind of thing you get funding for.”
JustGiving crowdfunders set up a fundraising page detailing a target amount needed to make their goal happen, they then have 30 days to raise this amount. At the end of this time, JustGiving collects the funds and passes them over so the page owner can start their project.
Tracey’s target was £250, but she raised just short of £600. “We sat watching the figure going up and up,” says Tracey, “it was such a buzz. It made me realise that people do care and that if people can help, they will. It’s just knowing how to reach those people.
“We’re not a big organisation; you don’t need to be to crowdfund. We just work on the ground helping people. It’s made a huge difference to us as a small organisation.”
JAGS has a Families Supporting Families network of 65 families nationally and as the network of bereaved mothers continues to grow, Tracey wants to be able to remember all these women on Mother’s Day.
I wanted to let other mums know that they’re not forgotten. I don’t think many people realise the isolation they feel
She promoted her JustGiving Crowdfunding page via the JAGS Twitter and Facebook pages, which resulted in interest from local radio and a surge in donations. Tracey says: “I feel blessed to be able to reach out in a way that helps other mothers feel like they can get through this. People often ask me how I’m able to forgive and get through it and I think that being able to give back is how I do it.”
Making the pain of a mum’s loss a little lighter when they receive a bunch of flowers is Tracey’s goal. One mother’s post left on the JAGS Facebook page reads: “That day I was feeling rotten. To have this wonderful lady turn up and brighten my day brought fresh and happy tears. The good hearts of many are what leads bereaved mothers through this tough journey ... Thank you for being my inspiration.”
Tracey is already making plans for her next JustGiving Crowdfunding campaign, to fund a project aimed at preventing the exploitation of teenage girls in youth gangs.
“If you can make a really good case for your cause, it helps people to see what you’re trying to do and how they can help be a part of it,” says Tracey. “It doesn’t have to be a big project, it could be a lunch for an old person, a new wheelchair, or a trip out for children. And anyone wanting to help could just give up their Starbucks’ coffee for one day, and instead donate £5.”
JustGiving Crowdfunding allows anyone to create a campaign and transform people power into donations. Find out more at crowdfunding.justgiving.com
