Harry's Rainbow was established in October 2011. The charity was setup in the memory of Harry Mould, a gorgeous and loving 5 and a half year old who passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly in March 2011 leaving the whole of the Mould family shell shocked and devastated, with a huge unfillable void in their lives.
Odette, Lee and Jessica found it extremely difficult to find the bereavement help and support that they needed, especially for Jessica, the 5 and a half year old twin sister of Harry who had just lost her brother and friend. There was nowhere local that they could turn to so, in October 2011 Harry's Rainbow was born.
People at Harry's Rainbow know intimately how it feels when such a tragedy occurs and know how difficult it can be to support children and loved ones. They provide useful information on their website (link above) and can also provide bereaved children and their families' FREE resources and support, and FREE activities and trips centred around the children.
The primary aims of Harry's Rainbow are to provide support for children, young people and their families who have lost someone close to them:
In Particular:
- Providing advice and support.
- Organising recreational activities for children, young people and their families to reduce the feeling of isolation felt during bereavement by encouraging and facilitating contact with other children.
- Raising awareness of the need for guidance, support and information on how to cope with bereavement.
To quote Odette "All we want to do is support grieving children and their families in any way we can."
Harry's Rainbow run numerous events throughout the year, keep an eye on the events tab to see anything that is new, the most occasional of which is 'Rainbow Group'. The group is held monthly on the 4th Monday (usually) and offers the opportunity for families to build relationships and make new friendships. The group is receiving very positive feedback, parents have said that children interacting with other children that are grieving is comforting as they realise they are not alone. Although many children have their own circle of friends, bereavement can make them feel lonely and isolated. Getting together with other children who are also bereaved can help combat these feelings and help them express how they are feeling.
The group may look like any other after school club from the outside, as these are the sorts of activities arranged for the sessions e.g. arts and crafts, a games room and a sports hall. The group runs monthly on the 4th Monday from 16:15-18:15pm at Mathiesen Community Centre, Mathiesen Road, Bradville, Milton Keynes, MK13 7AG. Please see the events tab to ensure the dates and times are correct.
Odette aims to run 3-4 trips a year, inclusive of a Christmas event. Previous trips have included 360, Caldecott Experience, Legoland, Derngate Theatre and Si5 Spy Mission.
If you can help in any way, need to refer a family or are a family yourselves that need help and support, please email Odette odette@harrysrainbow.co.uk or contact the team via the website www.harrysrainbow.co.uk.
Please allow 36 hours for a reply.
Harry's Rainbow relys heavily on donations. In fact all of the income the charity has raised since the beginning has been raised through fundraising, events and donations.
