Children's Grief Awareness Week 2022

This Thursday marks the start of Children's Grief Awareness Week.

The Week runs from 17th - 23rd November, and the theme this year is 'What helps?'

Along with many other children's bereavement support charities and organisations locally and across the UK, we invited children and young people to complete a 'sharing shape', depicting what has helped them.

Throughout the Week we will be sharing what children and young people at Guy's Gift have said helps them, and we invite others to share too.

Keep an eye out on our website and social media platforms!

Celebrating our Board of Trustees

This Trustee's Week we're celebrating our Trustees. The theme of this years event is 'Making a differnce in changing times' and without question, our trustees do this.

Guy's Gift has 4 trustees, all of whom bring experience and knowledge in different areas to strengthen our charity and help us to grow. They consider changes that we need to make as the world changes around us. They help us to implement new ways of working, and adapt our practices. They challenge us to be the best we can be in every aspect of what Guy's Gift is about.

We're beyond grateful for Stuart, Jackie, Ann and Jane who give their time to make Guy's Gift what it is, and for their unwavering support of bereaved children, young people and their families across Coventry and Warwickshire.

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If you're interested in finding out more about becoming a trustee with Guy's Gift, you can email our Chair of Trustees, Stuart Potter, on s.potter@guysgift.co.uk

THANK YOU to Tamworth Baptist Church

Recently, Tamworth Baptist Church held a Hot Chocolate Fundraiser.

Sounds like a great way to raise funds to us! Hot Chocolate is like a grat big hug in a mug, isn’t it?

Thank you to everyone involved, for raising £180.14 for Guy’s Gift. Your donation makes a real difference for the families we support.

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If you’re inspired by this fantastic fundraiser, why not set up your own event over on our Just Giving page.

email fundraising@guysgift.co.uk for more ideas and inspiration, or support in setting up your fundraiser.

We're Recruiting

We have two exciting opportunities to join the Guy’s Gift team.

Might you like to join us as a Community Based Counsellor, or maybe as a Volunteer Co-Ordinator.

Find out more on our Work With Us page.

Closing date for applications 22nd July 2022 at 16:30.

New Trustee

Following on from Ann joining the trustee team in February, we’re delighted to welcome Jane to the team too.

Of joining the team, Jane shared:

“I am pleased to be joining Guys Gift as a trustee after volunteering and working as an administrator over the lock down period.

I have been volunteering with Guy’s Gift for nearly five years, and have enjoyed delivering support to children and their parents through the Group Bereavement Support sessions.

Guys Gift is a small charity but plays a huge role in supporting families who have been bereaved.

I welcome the challenge of becoming a trustee and helping to continue with the excellent work the team do.”

Steve's Ultra Event

Over the weekend, another fundraising superstar took part in an awesome fundraising challenge.

This time, it took the shape of a 100km walk from London to Brighton. It’s called an Ultra Challenge, and we can see why!

This is the second time Steve has undertaken this challenge, and sadly this time he had to retire at 75km. A briliant achievement to get that far through the challenge, and it comes with a HUGE thank you from all of us here at Guy’s Gift.

Through the challenge, Steve has rasied a wonderful £465 towards the work of Guy’s Gift - and what a difference a total like this makes. Thank you!

Welsh Three Peaks - Fundraising Challenge Success

As you’ll know from a previous news story, a fantastic team of fundraisers from The Midcounties Co-operative recently embarked on the Welsh Three Peaks challenge.

After completing the challenge last week, team member Laura Stewart-Hammond told us ‘the team did brilliantly, we are all so pleased that we completed the challenge, lots of aches in the team but a huge sense of pride too’.

We think the whole team did brilliantly, and we are thrilled with the brilliant fundraising achieved. At the time of writing, the team have raised £2,184.

Laura shared that they began the challenge by setting off on the Pyg track on Snowdon at 5:15am (!) and made it to the top in good time. They then returned using the Miners Track. The completed the summit and return in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

From here they made their way to Cadair Idris and completed this mountain in 5 hours and 30 minutes. This was the mountain the team were most concerned abou, with its reputaion for being a tougher trek than Snowdon.

Next, after a rest to refuel, was the journey on to Pen Y Fan. The team arrived here at dusk and completed this climb in the dark. Thet got back to the base of the mountain at 11:30pm.

What an incredible challenge. This is a fantasitc achievement, and we’re so pleased that you have supported Guy’s Gift in your endeavours.

WELL DONE and THANK YOU to you all!

Midcounties Co-operative Fundraising Events

We’re really enjoying seeing the training photos from a couple of fundraising teams at Coop MidCounties.

Both events are taking place in May, and if you feel able to donate to their Just Giving pages, I’m sure it will give them another boost to succeed in their challenges.

First up we have Laura and co who are completing a Welsh Three Peaks Challenge.

The team will start at Snowdon on 18 May, from there they will be up and down at lightening speed before travelling to Cadair Idris and then finish the challenge at Pen-y-Fan. Three mountains, walking a total of 17 miles with a view to completing the challenge in less than 24 hours.

We’ve been enjoying seeing the teams updates whilst they’ve been in training, and we’re equally really looking forward to hearing how the team get on. We know they will appreciate your donations to spur them on. If you would like to donate to this fundraising team, head over to their Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mccwelshthreepeaks

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Another Midcounties Co-operative team member is taking on the London2Brighton Ultra Challenge on 28/29 May.

Steve will be setting of from London on the morning of 28th May and walking all the way to the coast. The full 100 km route heads over the South Downs before the welcome sight of the Brighton coastline comes in to view.

Steve has shared on his Just Giving page that he has attempted this challenge once before, but had to pull out with an injury. We’re all behind you Steve, and hope this year is your year!

If you’d like to donate to Steve’s challenge, his fundraising page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stevengraham2022

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If you’re inspired by these fabulous fundraising adventurers and you think you’d like to fundraise for Guy’s Gift too then please check out our fundraising pack, which you can download here, or send Brian an email at fundraising@guysgift.co.uk

New Trustee

Welcome to the trustee team, Ann Jones.

Ann has been volunteering with us for many years, and is a familiar face at group sessions. Now, she begins a new chapter with Guy’s Gift as she joins the board of trustees.

Video Launch

Have you seen our video?

We are excited to share with you a short video explaining who we are, what we do and what to expect when you come to Guy’s Gift.

Watch above to hear what various members of the Guy’s Gift team, and those who have accessed support with us, have to tell you about Guy’s Gift.

We hope this will help to answer questions about what support with Guy’s Gift might look like, and how to access support should you know someone who would benefit.

To make a referral for support or to find out more about us, please give us a call on 0845 467 3035 or get in touch via our contact form.