Christmas cheer still rings out for wigwam youngsters
THOUSANDS of island children have raised funds
for a local support group that helps families and friends of local
youngsters with special needs.
Sure donated five pence to Help a Guernsey
Child for every call made to its Santa storyline over the Christmas
period, and raised more than £230 for the charity.
The money will go to The Wigwam Support Group,
which offers help and support companionship to families and friends
of children with special needs.
Jenny Hooper, chairperson for The Wigwam
Support Group, said that it will help fund the support group’s next
social meeting.
“We have around 50 families registered and
therefore the overheads for our social meetings can be quite
large. We have to pay for use of the premises, entertainment
for the children such as bouncy castles, and for food and
drinks. The money raised by the Santa storyline will be put
to good use,” she said.
The group also meets regularly with
professionals such as speech and occupational therapists, as well
as nurses to resolve any concerns that parents might have, and to
help improve their child's care.
The group also provides a play group called
Teepee Toddlers which is run once a week, and provides a place
where parents can bring their pre-school age children to an all
inclusive environment, where the helpers have knowledge of children
with special needs.
Justin Bellinger, Guernsey commercial director
for Sure, said that the money is going to a very appropriate
charity.
“It is great that money raised as a result of
the island’s children calling in is going to benefit other local
youngsters. I’m glad that the storyline was able to provide
joy in one way by keeping the Christmas spirit alive, but also in
another enabling us to donate funds to such a worthwhile children’s
charity,” he said.
Alan Bisson, chairman of Help a Guernsey Child,
said that distinctive fundraising activities such as this are very
important to their charity.
“Thanks to Sure for such an original
fundraising idea, and for donating to local children,” he
said.
“I think that projects such as this which are a
bit different are really excellent, and they are very important to
our annual fundraising activities. We immediately identified
The Wigwam Support Group as a project that would benefit from the
money raised,” he said.