Throughout October thousands of musicians will be taking part in Oxjam, the biggest music festival in the UK, taking over stages, back rooms and street corners across the country to make music and raise money for Oxfam with gigs, DJ sets, busks and much more.

This October Oxjam is coming to Chester - with the aim of encouraging as many people as possible to take part in a festival with a difference: all the fundraising music events are put on by ordinary people – from large-scale gigs to local sponsored busks. Oxjam Chester will culminate in a day of live music on Sunday, October 25th across various venues in and around the city.

Since the launch of Oxjam in 2006, more than 36,000 musicians have taken part in almost 3,000 Oxjam events nationwide.

The festival has raised more than £1 million for the charity since it was created in 2006: enough to buy 31,000 emergency shelters, 40,000 goats, or provide 1.3 million people with safe drinking water.safe water for 1.3 million people, or buy 40,000 goats.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Oxfam gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Please help us to achieve our target and make poverty history.

Here's a summary of our Offline Events to date so you can see where some of our other fund-raising is coming from (exact amounts raised still being verified). Thanks to everyone who has helped organise these events and of course to those who have donated:

Cake sale at Bank of America, Fri 7th August - c.£120

Cake Sale at M&S Financial, Fri 7th August - c.£170

Bag-packing at Somerfield, Chester, Sat 8th August - c.£80

Black Manalishi fund-raiser gig at Alexanders, Chester, Fri 14th August - c.£40

Busking on Ben Nevis, Sat 22nd August (donations mainly online)

Busking on Mount Snowdon, Sun 13th Sept, £84 plus direct donations online

Beauty Night at Debenhams, Thurs 1st Oct, £TBC

City Bar, Chester - Surgery, Fri 2nd Oct, £100

Bar Lounge, Chester, Sun 4th Oct, £49

Alexander's, Chester, Sun 11th Oct, £29

Bar Lounge, Chester, Sun 11th Oct, £74

"Wenglish", Central Station, Wrexham, £TBC