A BEREAVEMENT support service launched by a Rugby mum following the loss of her 13-month-old son has received a windfall.
Freddie’s Wish was founded by Charlotte Jolliffe after her son Freddie died in a car crash in 2014.
The charity, which helps parents who have lost a child, has received £500 from housebuilder Persimmon Homes Central’s Community Champions scheme.
Freddie’s Wish trustee Laura Manzella said: “This money will go a long way towards supporting families who have lost a child, and providing support at such a difficult time.”
Freddie’s Wish provides free paediatric first aid courses in Rugby and across Warwickshire and works closely with Child Bereavement UK to fund bereavement training for teachers and health care professionals.
It also funds a bereavement support service twice a month so parents can access support should they need it following the loss of a child.
To date, Freddie’s Wish has raised over £100,000 and trained more than 500 people in paediatric first aid with many more courses planned. Last month, the charity held its third annual Starlight Ball – its most successful fundraiser to date.
Charlotte said: “We understand grief isn’t linear. At certain times, it can feel unmanageable again – like at anniversaries for example.
“There is going to be a lot of interest in this service and we are continuing to raise more money so we can keep it going and even extend it.
“Bereavement doesn’t discriminate and that’s why we need to work harder to make sure people who are suffering get the right support quickly and without charge.
“There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about Freddie and what sort of little boy he would be.
“Thankfully, a little bit of him lives on with the charity and the difference we are making to the lives of parents.”
Visit www.freddieswish.org or follow @freddies_wish on twitter for more information. Contact [email protected] to donate or get involved.
Persimmon Homes Central’s Community Champions scheme is a national programme where charities and groups can apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match funds they have raised themselves. Visit www.persimmonhomes.com/community-champions for more information.
