The charity was founded in 2006 by a group of parents of children with learning disabilities. Concerned for their children’s prospects and passionate that they should enjoy the same fulfilment and happiness as any other child, they created halow. One of the founding inspirations was Jessica and Charlotte’s sister, Harriet: the ‘h’ in halow.

The halow project is now a growing community charity, based in Guildford, Surrey. Its aim is to ensure that every person with a learning disability has the same life choices and chances as any other person. The charity runs projects to help young people build relationships, become part of the community, find meaningful employment and have a home of their own.

Jessica, Charlotte and Laura formed the Junior Trustees Board with other members, to raise money for the charity through events targeting fresh new audiences. Jessica comments: “We hope that as we are focused solely on fundraising and have gathered together a group of creative, digitally-savvy young people, we will be able to target new audiences to raise more money for halow. The group is formed from members who have a personal connection to the cause, so we are all very invested.”

The Board will be organising events to raise funds for a whole range of services for young people from 16 years upwards who need support after leaving school to become independent and active members of their community.

If you want to find out more about the charity, please look at their website: www.halowproject.org.uk. To get involved in the Junior Trustee Board, please contact Jessica Meins: jessicameins@gmail.com