Sue's Place survival following major Lottery grant

A unique charity which has helped hundreds of children to be happy again has reason to smile itself this week after being awarded a National Lottery grant which will help secure its future for the next four years.

The Newark and Notts Child Bereavement and Loss Centre, better known as Sue's Place was at risk of closure last year after coming to the end of its first lottery grant.

The charity was told today it had been successful in an application for £278,297 over a four year period.

Mrs Butler said it was wonderful news and was an endorsement of the charity's work.

"It is fantastic news that we have now been awarded this Lottery money which will really help but we do still need to keep other fundraising coming in."

Mrs Butler said that there had been a wonderful response to an appeal in the Advertiser from the charity in the summer asking readers to help with donations to ensure its work would be able to continue.

She said that as a result money had started to come in from people who had not realised that help was needed. She said that many companies who had helped in the past had managed to give them a bit extra when they realised the situation.

She said: "People have been most generous and as a result we have been able to reach the target we set ourselves each month."

The charity needs about £180,000 a year to meet its running costs.

Mrs Butler said they not only wanted to continue with their existing services but to develop them. A candlelight service was held for the first time last year and they helped staff a Newark school deal with counselling following a road accident in which a pupil died.

The charity's patron Jay McGuinness from The Wanted, who is currently on tour in Japan, said it was fantastic news.

He said: "I am so pleased that Sue's Place has been success in getting the Lottery grant. I know they will use it to continue to help children across Nottinghamshire.