As the "What does EFDSS actually do?" question seems to re-surface from time to time, I'll pull up the list which has been printed here in the past, and add some amendments for the past couple of years:

Hardcore English tunebook and double CD published in June 2007. "A sort of English O'Neill's. An essential publication." - Paul Burgess, Living Tradition

Running Joak, the Gloworms debut CD, produced May 2007

Marrow Bones: English folk songs from the Hammond and Gardener manuscripts, published in July 2007. "A most welcome reprint." - Martin Carthy

Traveller's Joy: songs of English and Scottish Trevellers and Gypsies, songbook and CD published January 2007. "The most important book of traditional songs to be published so far this century." - Vic Smith, fRoots.

Treble DVD of Sam Sherry, including archival film, photos and biography, published November 2007.

The Folk Handbook, published in collaboration with Backbeat Books, 2007

£154,500 Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the Take 6 Project, conserving 6 collections from the VWML and taking some of them into the communities where they were first collected. A Take 6 officer was appointed and the project, finishing this summer, has worked with schools in London, Lancashire and Hampshire, bringing traditional songs back to the communities where they were collected. There will be live events celebrating the work of Take 6 this summer: Folk in the Park, Stanley Park, Blackpool 22 August, 2-4pm, admission free. And at Petersfield Museum, discover your own musical talents at two workshops led by Hampshire folk singer Sarah Morgan. Adult workshop on 12 June, 7.30-9.30pm, and a family singing session
on 30 July from 10-12noon. Workshops are free but the museum suggests donations of £5 per adult and £1 per child. To book your
place, contact Petersfield Museum on 01730 262601. Plus the Museum is holding an exhibition on local folk song, past and present from 8 to 27 June, in association with Hampshire Record Office.


EDS magazine continues to develop as an important and relevant resource for the folk world (as noted by Ian Anderson), including its move to being a full-colour publication.

London Links project launched to expand the use of VWML by community groups and individuals, particularly in 3 London boroughs. Part-funded by a £3k grant from the Mercer's Company. Sam Lee, the London Links officer, has been responsible for initiating a wealth of new projects including the What the Folk? series of Saturday lectures and music tuition.

EFDSS 75th anniversary events held throughout 2007; RVW event, celebrating the folk song collecting of Vaughan Williams, Oct 2008; Bert Lloyd celebration event, November 2009; St George's Day event, April 2009, featuring new folk artists. Plus a whole programme of regular concerts including artists such as Jim Moray and the Shee.

EFDSS-sponsored film screenings, talks and workshops at festivals including Sidmouth and Whitby, 2007 - 2008. Festival sponsorship of activity and showcases of music by young and traditional artists at Cambridge, Sidmouth and Furness folk festivals, 2009.

Living Song - A joint initiative devised by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD) celebrating the English Folk Song as a living, evolving tradition, and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vaughan Williams' death. Young composers and singers from Chamber Choir were participated in a workshop with Sam Lee, EFDSS's London Links Officer, and accessed resources at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House. Three student composers worked directly from source material, just as Vaughan Williams did a century ago, to create new work based on folk melody and text. Performed (alongside Vaughan Williams folk song settings) by RCMJD Chamber Choir directed by Joy Hill in December 2008 at Imperial College, London.

There are a number of other projects in the pipeline, including a national Olympics project in partnership with the Joint Morris Organisations which will get hundreds, if not thousands, of children across the country morris dancing.

The development of a new national strategy for 2010.

Appointment of Katy Spicer, new Chief Executive, and Rachel Elliott 2008. Appopintment of new Director of Marketing, summer 2009 (at which point members of the board will hopefully be able to stop making posts like this!)