'I won't lose charity set up in memory of my daughter'

A bereavement charity set up in memory of a six-year-old girl from Liverpool has said it is at risk of closing before Christmas due to a lack of funds.

Love Jasmine is a charity supporting families after child loss on Merseyside, which was set up by Rob and Kathy Lapsley in 2016 after the death of their daughter Jasmine in 2014.

But after years providing services including counselling and group therapy to bereaved families, Rob said the charity now faces a "funding gap" and has had to reduce the support provided to families.

"It's been really difficult. It goes against everything we are. But we will keep going, I don't want to lose this," he said.

Jasmine died after choking on a grape during a family holiday in North Wales and the charity was set up two years later.

"Everything changed the day Jasmine died, and our lives changed," Rob told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Your world-view changes, innocence isn't there anymore, because the worst thing has happened.

"I needed something to focus on, a purpose."

At first Rob said he was reluctant to join discussions at the peer support group, but after doing so he said he "got an awful lot out of it".

"I smiled and laughed properly without actually feeling guilty," he said.

"Whether you laugh whether you cry, whether you shout, whether you sit there and don't say anything, people understand."

The charity now provides a range of other services - from practical support to counselling, self-care sessions, grandparent support sessions and coffee mornings.

But after a three-year National Lottery grant totalling £255,571 was not renewed this year, Rob said the group had already had to make cut-backs to avoid closing before Christmas.

"I was really despondent when we got the decision," Rob said.

"Unfortunately, we're going to have to start winding people's support back," he said.

"We don't really have any choice until we can bridge this funding gap. It's either that or close."

Rob and Kathy are now trying to raise £90,000 to make up for the loss, as well as organising a sponsored walk set to take place in June.

"It's been a really, really difficult thing to raise with people," Rob continued.

"There's been an emotional impact for me and Kathy after everything we've put into it.

"But we'll keep going because this means so much to me. It's got my daughter's name on it.

"I say her name every day and it's an honour to support bereaved families in her name."

In a statement, the National Lottery Community Fund said: "We know that Love Jasmine has been an incredible support to bereaved parents and families across the community.

"However, every year we receive many more applications than we are able to fund.

"We assess all applications against our funding criteria and aims, on a case by case basis.

"These are difficult decisions to make but we are not able to fund every one of the very worthwhile applications we receive."

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