It’s been 14 years since Odette and Lee Mould sat at their kitchen table and came up with the idea of a children’s bereavement charity in memory of their son, Harry.
Since then, Harry’s Rainbow has become a prominent part of the Milton Keynes community, both organising and benefiting from charitable events across the city and the surrounding areas, and it has grown into an organisation that has helped almost 1,000 children cope with the death of a parent or sibling.
Demand for the charity’s services grows as awareness of its services grows and the charity registered 179 children in 2024; bringing the total number of children currently registered to 610.
The charity organises groups and activities to bring children and young people in similar circumstances together, helping to relieve isolation and loneliness and offer guidance and support. Rainbow Groups covering a range of age groups provide friendship and support alongside trips and activities, short breaks and mentoring. The charity also provides resources and memory boxes, as well as school support.
Mark Creasy has recently joined Harry’s Rainbow as Education Liaison Development Officer and he will be working with teachers and schools to help staff understand more about helping children deal with grief and the loss of a loved one.
Alison Johnson, Fundraising and Events Manager, said: “It’s amazing to think how far the charity has come and how many Rainbow Groups we are running now. We never want to say no to a bereaved child that needs help, we’re the only children’s bereavement charity in the Milton Keynes area, so we have to support that community as much as we can.
“Regular events, such as the Colour Run each summer and the recent Question of Sport-style quiz night, bring in much needed funds. In addition, many local businesses fundraise for Harry’s Rainbow and the community gets behind us with numerous donations. We could not help the children we do without their support. It’s through regular giving, however, that the charity is able to plan ahead and feel confident that it can carry on supporting any child that needs help.
“Our individual giving scheme, which allows people to become a Friend of Harry’s Rainbow, starts at just £5 per month. It’s not much more than a cup of coffee, but those small amounts add up and knowing we have a regular source of income makes all the difference.
“Similarly, we currently have five Corporate Friends – Cherished Urns, Plumbing and Gas Solutions, Safe Names, EMW and Thorne Projects Solutions – and we would love to hear from other companies that would like to join that list. As a Corporate Friend of Harry’s Rainbow, we ask for a regular donation of £100 per month, and if anyone would like to find out more about that, we’d be delighted to hear from them.
“Regular income, on top of the fundraising events, where we are always so grateful for the generosity of the people of Milton Keynes, gives us a guaranteed income and stability and it really matters to have that solid base when we are looking at how many children we can help this year and over the years to come.”
Find out more about Harry’s Rainbow on their website.
