A HILLINGDON charity, the HALO Children’s Foundation, is intu Uxbridge shopping centre’s nominated charity partner for 2018.

Halo Children’s Foundation, established in 2016, supports children and their families after the loss of a loved one, providing a range of services to guide families through their grief.

Alia Jones, founder of Halo, said, “The death of a loved one, especially a parent, is one of the most life-changing events a child will ever face.

“Halo was set up to make sure there is someone for bereaved children to turn to, and to give guidance to those around them, to support their need to make sense of the death and go on to rebuild their lives.

“Our vision is that no family will grieve alone and it is our mission to make sure that, with our help, those families can find quality of life after loss.”

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intu Uxbridge worked with Rainbow Trust and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) to raise funds and awareness in 2016 and 2017, during which time generous shoppers helped raise just over £30,000, split between the two charities.

Centre staff also contributed 10 volunteer days for the Rainbow Trust, arranging and funding a trip to Port Lympne Zoo, with gifts for the children.

Seven days of volunteering were provided for CRY,  five in helping at the CRY Bridges Walk in London and two in the London to Paris Bike Ride.

Natasha House, marketing manager at intu Uxbridge added: “We hope our customers will be as generous towards Halo as they have been in the past two years.

"As a team we are very much looking forward to supporting Alia in fulfilling her mission to provide this much-needed support group.”