The founders of Helping Herts have raised over £200,000 for twelve children’s charities, as a part of its 2022 campaign. 

Gordan Morrison and Jim Tatchell, the founders of Helping Herts, the official charity of Stort Valley Rotary, invited the Leader and Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council Richard Roberts to share the amount raised. 

The campaign exceeded its £150,000 target, raising a grand total of just over £200,000 which was split between Coram Life Education, Carers in Herts, Herts Young Homeless, For Baby’s Sake, Herts Mind Network, Grove Cottage, Riding for the Disabled, Home-Start Herts, Phoenix Group for Deaf Children & Adults, PlaySkill, the Ollie Foundation and the NSPCC. 

Multiple charity events helped raise this amount, some of which included Gordon and Jim’s 180-mile walk of the Hertfordshire Way, the Great Big Walk for Herts, a sustainable fashion show, raffle, generous donations and proceeds from sales of a digital activity guide. 

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Liz Le Coze, strategic manager for Home-Start Hertfordshire, said: “We are thrilled to have taken part in the 2022 Helping Herts campaign and are absolutely delighted to have received £14,102.  

“We have seen a huge increase in the number of families referred to Home-Start Herts, for varied and increasingly very complex needs. 

“These funds will help us support families and prevent them from reaching crisis point, offering their children the best start in life.  

“Thank you so much to the fabulous Helping Herts campaign team for all their hard work and support and to the other charities who all deliver such vital support to children in Hertfordshire.” 

Helping Herts was set up in 2021 to celebrate the work charities do in Hertfordshire and support them so they can continue to have a positive impact in the community.  

The theme for the 2022 campaign was Children’s Welfare in order to support children and their mental health, and this will continue into 2023.  

Cllr Annie Brewster, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “It was a tremendous honour to welcome Gordon Morrison and his inspirational Helping Herts team to County Hall today.   

“To raise over £200k for Hertfordshire children’s charities in their 2022 campaign is sensational. Well done to everyone who contributed to this impressive sum.   

“It was wonderful to hear how the twelve recipient Hertfordshire charities are aiming to utilise this generous gesture.” 

Gordon Morrison, co-founder of Helping Herts, said: “Thank you to everyone who supported our events and have helped us raise funds for these amazing charities so they can continue their valuable work across Hertfordshire.  

“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with the campaign so far and are looking forward to building on that this year.” 

Fellow co-founder Jim Tatchell added: “Many charities have seen their demand for services increase over the couple of years. We hope that these funds will help to bridge this gap.  

“Look out for details of more fundraising events and activities to get involved in during 2023 and help us continue to support the work of these incredible charities.” 

Additionally, two more charities have signed up to take part in the 2023 campaign; Keech Hospice Care and Chexs – a family support charity based in Waltham Cross. 

To keep up with Helping Herts events and activities Herts visit https://www.facebook.com/helpingherts/