A mother from Liverpool has recorded a charity single to support a local charity that helps bereaved families, three years after the death of her son. Cath Martin, 60, wrote the song 'Give a Little Love', which will be released to benefit the Wavertree-based charity Love Jasmine.
Charity Faces Closure
In April, the ECHO reported that Love Jasmine could close by Christmas unless it secures funding after a National Lottery grant expired. Cath's son, Sean Martin, died at age 26 in 2023. He was the lead singer of the Liverpool band The Night Café.
Cath, from Roby, collaborated with local musicians Barrie Cass and Ty Gulliver to record the song at Scratch Studios in West Derby. She expressed her hope that the charity receives the funding it deserves for its impactful community work.
'What they do is so impactful. I've experienced being a bereaved mum. It's vital that support exists and that people care,' Cath said. 'There's nothing similar in Liverpool, which makes them special. That specialty needs funding and recognition.'
Music as Therapy
Cath discovered music later in life, turning to poetry and performance after Sean's death. She also created a bucket list that included recording a song in a studio. Sean was a founding member and frontman of The Night Café, one of Liverpool's most popular bands.
'When I lost my son, I wanted to continue his legacy and find solace through music,' Cath explained. 'Sean was an amazing man—a wonderful son, brother, uncle, partner, and friend. He was everything. I think he would be proud of me doing this.'
Charity's Precarious Position
Love Jasmine, founded by Kathy and Rob Lapsley after their daughter Jasmine died in 2014, faces an uncertain future. The charity lost a three-year National Lottery grant of £255,571, which made up 40% of its 2024 funding. A subsequent grant application was unsuccessful, leading to the cancellation of complementary therapies and a halt on accepting new families.
Rob Lapsley, 52, told the ECHO: 'Without long-term, secure funding, things are precarious. The families we support are behind us, but we need to reach people unaware of our work.'
Support events include a sponsored walk this Sunday and a fundraising event in September.
Lyrics from Experience
Cath noted that the song's lyrics address the emotions of losing a child and the support Love Jasmine provides. 'Music is therapy for me. It's allowed me to explore poetry and songwriting, and it feels like giving back,' she said.
'The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt. They capture how someone might feel and end with a line directed at Love Jasmine: 'I don't know how I would have gone on without you.' It reflects the charity's support.'
