Report: Sam Spearing-Evans

Ormskirk's Portico nursery at West End School transformed the outside garden area to hold a ‘fun afternoon’ to raise funds for local charity Hope St.

The community, children, parents and friends arrived to a buzzing atmosphere where the bunting and balloons blew in the wind as children queued up at the mocktail fountain where there was a strict under 18’s policy.

Games and stalls included hook a duck, cakes, refreshments, guess the name weight, sweets in a jar as well as the tombola. The raffle was the main attraction and consisted of over 35 prizes and toys generously donated by local businesses, parents and friends of the nursery to support this amazing charity. They included beauty treatments, food gift vouchers at local pubs/restaurants, hampers, alcohol, remote controlled cars, drones plus so much more.

Portico are delighted to announce that they raised £750 for Hope St. Shelia - a co-founder of the charity - was in attendance and overwhelmed that Portico had chosen to help them raise not just funds but awareness of Hope St. in our community.

Hope St. offer support to everyone and their families who suffer with depression, anxiety, PTSD and OCD. This is something that Portico nursery group hold very close to their hearts and as leaders in this field mental well-being is just as important to them as physical health.

Amanda Wiley, (right) Manager of Portico at West End told QLocal: "We support not just the children but their parents through many difficult times, and understand the lack of help this area gets in our community and so champion the service and help Hope St. gives to so many."

Click here for a recent QLocal exclusive as Hope St. celebrated its first anniversary: https://www.qlocal.co.uk/ormskirk/ne...1-55038277.htm

For further information: www.porticonurserygroup.co.uk and www.hopest.org.uk