Michael Parkinson Becomes Charity Patron

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

British TV presenter Sir Michael Parkinson has been named the patron of the Child Bereavement Charity in the UK.

The charity provides support and information to all affected by the death of a baby or child or when children are bereaved and also provides accessible training for over 5000 professionals who work with these families and children.

Parkinson has been a long-time supporter of the charity and recently hosted The Ashes Golf Challenge, a major fundraising event for the charity that featured Australian and English cricketers battling it out on the golf course.

“The idea came up when I was having lunch with Ricky Ponting in Australia earlier this year," said Parkinson. “I suggested that if he supported my charity, I would support his. And so the idea of pitching England against Australia in a golf challenge during the Ashes series was born.”

The event – which also featured cricketer Shane Warne – raise over £75,000 for the charity.

“The work that the Child Bereavement Charity does is incredibly important and it’s a privilege to be able to help,” said Parkinson.

“We are thrilled that Sir Michael has agreed to join our team of patrons and lend his support to our work,” said Ann Chalmers, chief executive of the charity. “His personality and flair will make a huge difference to raising the profile of our work and much-needed funds to support families and professionals when the unthinkable happens – when a child dies or is bereaved of someone important to them.”

Prince William Launches Child Bereavement Campaign

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Royal Prince William recently became patron of the Child Bereavement Charity, an organization supported by the late Princess Diana, and spoke about his mother at the launch of the charity’s ‘Remember on Mother’s Day’ campaign at London’s Sladmore Contemporary Art Gallery on Thursday, March 12.

“Losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can endure,” he said at the event. “Never being able to say the word `mummy’ again in your life sounds like a small thing. However, for many, including me, it’s now really just a word — hollow and evoking memories. I too have felt – and still feel – the emptiness on such a day as Mother’s Day…. For those who have lost the one they love, rest assured they will be watching over you.”

The Remember on Mother’s Day campaign aims to highlight the importance of Mother’s Day for families which have suffered the loss of a child or a mother, and raise awareness of the difficulties faced by families coping with bereavements. It also asks for people to pause and reflect on people finding the period painful them on the day itself.

Last week’s event launched the charity’s advertising campaign and included an exhibition of drawings and paintings by children from local schools. The Prince met with the founders and staff of the charity, as well as with people who were grieving the lose of family members.

“I cannot even begin to say how delighted we are that Prince William has agreed to be our Patron,” said Julia Samuel, Founder Patron of the Child Bereavement Charity. “It will make a huge difference to raising awareness of the charity and its work in supporting families and professionals when the unthinkable happens – when a parent has a child die or when a child is bereaved of a parent or sibling.”

The Child Bereavement Charity provides support and information to all affected by the death of a baby or child or when children are bereaved and accessible training for the professionals who work with these families and children. Established in 1994, the charity’s vision is for all bereaved children and grieving families to have access to relevant support and information from appropriately trained professionals.

Also last week, Prince William attended a dinner for Centrepoint, the UK’s leading homeless youth charity. Alongside BBC television and radio presenter Kirsty Young, The Bill actress Lisa Maxwell and radio DJ Sara Cox, the Prince helped to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization, of which he has been a patron since 2005.

“My brother and I were lucky enough to grow up supported by the love and nurturing of our family,” he told guests. “They saw to our education, our health, our well-being, and every other need. So many young people have none of this. It is for them that Centrepoint represents the difference between misery and dejection and a sense of hope and renewed self-confidence.”

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Michael Parkinson Becomes Charity Patron

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