Dorset schools and businesses show love and support for charity (From Dorset Echo)

Dorset schools and businesses show love and support for charity

2:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Rachael Burnett

DORSET schools and businesses have shown their love for a charity supporting bereaved children with a Valentine’s bake-sale.

A total of 22 schools and several companies in the county took part in the Echo-backed campaign ‘Bake a Cake and Support Mosaic’ and raised more than £4,600 for Mosaic to help its work with bereaved children, young people and their families across Dorset.

The campaign is set to become an annual fundraising event after its initial success this year.

Donations have been rolling in since Valentine’s Day and organiser Katie Hensman said she is overwhelmed by the total amount that has been raised.

She said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the totals that schools have raised, it’s been anything from £50 to £500.

“Some of these schools will have heard of us because they may have had a child referred to us for bereavement counselling.

“They have really taken on the challenge and really embraced why it’s important to support us which is fantastic.

“We really are overwhelmed.”

Mrs Hensman added: “A total of £4646.10 has been raised so far but that figure keeps going up, we’ve still got donations coming in.

“I’ve even had cheques from schools who hadn’t told me they were taking part, which was a welcome surprise.

“This money will allow us to continue running the charity, these are vital funds.

“It’s a boost to know that we are needed and are helping families in Dorset.”

Mosaic only currently receives statutory funding for the bereavement support it provides to individual children and their families, all other money, including that for the residential weekends and general running costs, is generated through fundraising.

Mrs Hensman said: “Our statutory funding doesn’t come close to covering the cost of running the group on a day-to-day basis.

“We need to fundraise to survive.

“We are as busy as ever with referrals from families and school and it’s important that we’re there to work with these children.”

She added: “This has come at a fantastic time because it’s hard for all charities – we’re all feeling the pinch.

“I really want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported us.

“We are looking forward to next year and want to get even more schools taking part.”

As well as individual and family bereavement support, Mosaic organises twice yearly residential camp weekends at Leeson House in Swanage, where children are invited to try new challenges and activities, meet new friends who have also experienced bereavement, remember the special person who has died and understand it is still okay to have fun.

For more information about the charity and its work visit mosaicfamilysupport.org.uk