Hove community group hands charity £1,750 raised at street party

A Hove community group has handed over a cheque for £1,750 to a bereavement charity after raising the money at a street party.

The money was raised by 4 Streets in Hove which brings together people living in Belfast Street, Brooker Street, Connaught Terrace and Stirling Place.

They presented the cheque to Sylvie Johnson, the regional fundraising and events manager for Winston’s Wish.

The charity was chosen after the death earlier this year of Grania Dean, of Stirling Place.

A fundraising page in her memory has already raised more than £2,700 for Winston’s Wish https://graniarose-dean.muchloved.com.

And 4 Streets chose the Urchin pub, in Belfast Street, for the cheque handover after the pub’s generous support for the community group and its fundraising efforts.

Pippa Hodge, from 4 Streets, said: “We’re a community group that formed in 2012 when we laid on a street party, enjoyed the day so much and realised the importance of getting to know each other and having a bit of fun together.

“Everybody can go through difficult personal times so our main aim is to bring people together through street parties, outdoor cinema screenings and street play-outs.

“But we also want to raise a bit of money to give back to the local charities and community groups that help people living in our 4 Streets in their lives.

“This year to honour the memory of our neighbour and friend, Grania, and her family, we chose Winston’s Wish.”

Sylvie Johnson said: “It is so important to have a sense of a supportive community when a family is experiencing the loss of their loved one, both in terms of the practical help but also for emotional support as a family tries to come to terms with their loss, so I am delighted to have made a connection with the vibrant 4 Streets community group.

“The money they have raised can enable a family to attend one of our residential weekend groups, which allow them to connect with other bereaved families, reducing feelings of isolation and to help normalise their experience of grief, while learning ways to cope through their shared experience.”