Harry’s Rainbow
Become a friend to children in need of support
It’s been 14 years since Odette and Lee Mould sat at their kitchen table and came up with the idea of a children’s bereavement charity in memory of their son, Harry. Since then, Harry’s Rainbow has become a prominent part of
the Milton Keynes community, both organising and benefi ting from charitable events across the city and the surrounding areas, and it has grown into an organisation that has helped almost 1,000 children cope with the death of a parent or sibling. Demand for the charity’s services grows as awareness of its
services grows and the charity registered 179 children in 2024; bringing the total number of children currently registered to 610. T e charity organises groups and activities to bring children and
young people in similar circumstances together, helping to relieve isolation and loneliness and off er guidance and support. Rainbow Groups covering a range of age groups provide friendship and support alongside trips and activities, short breaks and mentoring. T e charity also provides resources and memory boxes, as well as school support. Mark Creasy has recently joined Harry’s Rainbow as Education
Liaison Development Offi cer and he will be working with teachers and schools to help staff understand more about helping children deal with grief and the loss of a loved one. Alison Johnson, Fundraising and Events Manager, said: “It’s
amazing to think how far the charity has come and how many Rainbow Groups we are running now. We never want to say no to a bereaved child that needs help, we’re the only children’s bereavement charity in the Milton Keynes area, so we have to support that community as much as we can.
“Regular events, such as the Colour Run each summer and the
recent Question of Sport-style quiz night, bring in much needed funds. In addition, many local businesses fundraise for Harry’s Rainbow and the community gets behind us with numerous donations. We could not help the children we do without their
support.It’s through regular giving, however, that the charity is able to plan ahead and feel confi dent that it can carry on supporting any child that needs help. “Our individual giving scheme, which allows people to become
a Friend of Harry’s Rainbow, starts at just £5 per month. It’s not much more than a cup of coff ee, but those small amounts add up and knowing we have a regular source of income makes all the diff erence. “Similarly, we currently have fi ve Corporate Friends – Cherished
Urns, Plumbing and Gas Solutions, Safe Names, EMW and T orne Projects Solutions – and we would love to hear from other companies that would like to join that list. As a Corporate Friend of Harry’s Rainbow, we ask for a regular donation of £100 per month, and if anyone would like to fi nd out more about that, we’d be delighted to hear from them. “Regular income, on top of the fundraising events, where we are
always so grateful for the generosity of the people of Milton Keynes, gives us a guaranteed income and stability and it really matters to have that solid base when we are looking at how many children we can help this year and over the years to come.”
Find out more about Harry’s Rainbow at
harrysrainbow.co.uk
ALL THINGS BUSINESS | 52
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
