Thanks to Volunteering Project Co-ordinator, Kelly Matthews from the YMCA vinvolved project who has sent in this appeal for help. Ed
As readers will remember, the YMCA vinvolved project has organised a ‘sponsored indoor laser storm marathon‘ with JR Zone, Newport Isle of Wight which is planned to take place on Thursday 23rd July from 6.30pm -10pm.
The event aims to help raise funds and the profile of Help2Grieve – the Children and Young Peoples Bereavement Service.
Appeal for sponsorship
We have a dozen young people from across the Island that have signed up to take part in this event and they are currently seeking sponsorship.
Our enthusiastic young volunteers have agreed to take part in the three and a half hour Laser Storm Play Marathon within JR Zones multi level indoor play area.
It beats tin rattling hands down!!
Volunteers have the opportunity to keep fit, meet new people and raise much needed funds.
Kate Stark, a volunteer who plans to score the most points by ‘lasering’ all the participants during the three and a half hour marathon states ‘everyone who has signed up to this fantastic active fundraiser would much appreciate the local community to give their support for such a well needed service by sponsoring all of us. Every penny counts!
If you would like to sponsor the YMCA vinvolved Laser Storm volunteers, you can write a cheque payable to YMCA Fairthorne Group and send it to Kelly Matthews, Volunteering Project Co-ordinator, YMCA Winchester House, Sandown Road, Shanklin PO30 5JY. Alternatively you can pop to Winchester House from Monday-Friday during 9-5pm and the staff will thank you for your grand support. If these options do not suit, please contact the volunteering co-ordinator on 01983 862441 to arrange an alternate payment method or collection.
All sponsorship funds are required before the 23rd July 2009.
What about the charity
Help2Grieve will provide services for children and young people on the Isle of Wight to enable them to cope with bereavement and to raise awareness and understanding within the wider community of the impact of loss on young lives.
Currently there is no bereavement service on the Isle of Wight that specifically addresses the needs of children, and no bereavement support at all for under 5s. This service will be available to all aged 0-18 who have been affected by a death.
There is significant evidence from that good quality early intervention improves a child’s ability to go through a healthy grieving process and resume their life. Taking a long term view, if children experience unresolved or complicated grief it can directly lead to difficulties later in life.
Help2Grieve will offer a range of services from information, support and training to schools, families and those who work with children, 1-1 support for children utilising professional bereavement counsellors, group work, and events such as memorial days.
There is no statutory funding available for a service such as this and in order for Help2Grieve to become established it needs to be embedded in the community. YMCA Isle of Wight has decided to support the project during its start up phase but we need to raise funds quickly to start and sustain the service. We ask please that you contact us if there is anything you can do to help with fundraising.
This service will benefit all families on the Isle of Wight who are affected by grief and it will always rely on support from the community.
