A local children's bereavement charity are calling on the support of residents when they're out shopping this festive season. O.L.L.Y provides support for children across Merseyside who have suffered the loss of a loved one through acts of violence as well as kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Our Lost Love Years, aka Ollie, was created by Joseph, a young boy who lost his mother
00:07 to murder. His grandmother Jean runs a charity alongside families fighting for justice after
00:12 losing her sister, son and daughter.
00:17 Children who have lost a loved one from acts of violence, often these children keep it
00:29 all locked up inside. These are the forgotten victims. Children like to talk to each other
00:40 and that is what they can do in Ollie.
00:44 The charity provides children and young people with support and a range of activities designed
00:48 at helping them regain the fun in their lives and help them re-establish and make friendships
00:53 following their traumatic experiences.
00:55 As time went on we decided to take children into Ollie who haven't lost anybody through
01:02 an act of violence, homicide, culpable road death. We brought children into Ollie from
01:08 the communities where high crime exists.
01:12 This festive season the charity are asking for toy donations so they can give them out
01:16 to some 300 children who they engage with who are aged between 3 and 17.
01:23 Families are struggling as well we know. Let's bring a smile on that child's face. If you
01:33 feel you can give a gift, no matter how small, it shows someone is thinking of them and they're
01:43 not forgotten and that someone there also cares. We want to give them children a presence
01:54 so they feel and hopefully give them that little bit of confidence to know there are
02:01 others out there who care.
02:04 Donations can be dropped at their hub in Liverpool City Centre or at their charity shop in Bootle
02:09 Strand. They're welcoming gifts until Tuesday 5th December so they have time to wrap and
02:15 coordinate the drop-offs in the community to the children and young people who they
02:20 support.
02:21 I'd like to appeal and address the children who are 12, 13, 14, 15. These are sometimes
02:37 the children that people think not to donate a present to. I know a toiletry set, a set
02:48 of pyjamas, a make-up set, anything to do with your hair, sets for these children, these
03:03 teenagers.