Havant charity Over The Wall launches emergency appeal after camps cancelled for seriously ill children

Children’s charity Over The Wall is calling on public support to survive as the outbreak of coronavirus has had a severe impact on the charity’s income, with all of its summer camps cancelled.

Since 1999, Over The Wall has provided free residential camps for children with more than 130 different illnesses, helping 8,000 seriously ill children and their families, to engage in life-changing memorable experiences.

It is now calling on the support of the general public to help ensure that the camps run again in the future.

Kevin Mathieson, chief executive, said: ‘We are launching an appeal for funding, to essentially help ensure the survival of Over The Wall - and would therefore gratefully receive any support the public can offer.

‘We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone, but any support now would be critical in us securing the future of the charity.’

The charity is already putting alternative plans in place for the children who were scheduled to attend in 2020, by creating an exclusive virtual programme named Camp in the Cloud.

This will be a free interactive web-based programme that brings camp directly into the home of the camper through challenges, activities and inspirational projects.

Activity Blitz is also set to engage the charity’s wider audience, a project which offers activities for all children and families in lockdown to participate in at home, which currently appears on the charity’s social media platforms three times per week.

However, to ensure the continuation of the venue-based camps that the charity is famous for, Over The Wall is asking for any donations to ensure that families struggling with serious illness can access the fun and laughter of the free camps in the future.

Mr Mathieson added: ‘While we know the coronavirus will one day be beaten – we are unsure of the continuation of our charity. So, if you can, please help us to ensure that Over The Wall survives these difficult times.’

To make a donation to help Over The Wall in its emergency appeal, go to otw.org.uk.

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