Family of Charlotte Churchill organise festival to honour memory

Aug 10 2011 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

THE family of a Wirral teenager killed in a car crash is organising a summer festival to raise funds for a youth hub promoting the arts, music, drama and IT.

Charlotte Churchill was just 19 when the car she was travelling in with her boyfriend and another friend was involved in a collision in April this year.

And to honour her memory, her family and friends have set up the Brightside Trust with the long-term aim of developing a community centre in her home town of Wallasey.

Charlotte’s mum, Angie said: “The ultimate goal of the charity is to provide 11 to 16 year olds in Wallasey with a place where they can be safe and have fun.

“We want the centre to be a hub for music, arts, drama and IT, where young people can also just have a space to ‘hang out’.

“To achieve this we need £5,000 to kick start ‘Charlotte Fest’ and the Brightside Trust.

“The festival will be a celebration of Charlotte’s life featuring some of her favourite entertainment with many local bands already offering their services.

“There will also be raffles and stalls of goods to be sold and an auction in order to raise funds.

“It would be fantastic if local businesses and individuals across Wirral and Merseyside can help us fulfil this wish.

“Charlotte was training to be a nursery nurse and loved spending time with children.

“We want the Brightside Trust to encourage talent in young people and in the future possibly offer career and training advice and support to teenagers.”

Around 2,000 wristbands will sold across the peninsula to raise awareness and a number of retailers, beauticians and hairdressers have already agreed to help out, but the family want to hear from more businesses who may be able to help out,.

Angie said: “We have had a wonderful response so far from friends and businesses such as The Boot pub in Liscard, which has already agreed to host a variety of fundraising events.

“Any goods for auction, stalls onsite or financial sponsorship will be greatly appreciated and will make a huge difference to creating a charity that can make a difference for the young people of the Wirral.”

Charlotte died on Saturday April 19, when the car she was a passenger in hit a tree near Mold in North Wales.

Her boyfriend Jason Flaherty, and a friend who was driving the red Nissan Micra, sustained minor injuries.

Charlotte Fest will be held at Vale Park, Wallasey on Saturday September 10. For more information, or to get involved, email angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk