Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP (“BLG”) is proud to announce that its staff have chosen The Child Bereavement Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity as the firm’s charities for 2009/10.

The Child Bereavement Charity is a national charity that supports families and educates professionals both when a child dies and when a child grieves. The charity provides a support and information service, an online forum for families, and Buckinghamshire-based support groups, as well as training and support for professionals who come into contact with bereaved families.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity raises money to enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide world-class care for its young patients and their families and to pioneer new treatments and cures for childhood illness by: contributing to the rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital; funding the most up-to-date equipment; supporting research into, and development of, breakthrough treatments; and providing accommodation and other support services for children and their families.

BLG senior partner Simon Konsta said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with The Child Bereavement Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. The work that these charities do for children and their families is incredibly important and it’s a privilege to help them achieve their fundraising goals.”

Ian Davis of the Child Bereavement Charity said: “It means a great deal to us at the Child Bereavement Charity to be supported by BLG. Our work involves the very thing that most people can't bear to even contemplate - that their child might die, or be left to face life without a mum, dad, brother or sister. It's a cause that people often shy away from, but BLG have been wonderful. We rely heavily on donations and the financial support is hugely important, but as a smaller charity its also vital to get our name known, so that grieving families know where to turn.”

Joanna Wallis of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said: “We are very proud to have been selected as one of BLG’s chosen charities. We are delighted that any money raised through this partnership will be used to complete fundraising for a ventilator to the value of £14,935, which will be used in our intensive care wards. As a charity, we must ensure our hospital equipment and facilities are as world class as our care, and providing medical equipment suitable for children is particularly expensive. This is why support from organisations such as BLG is crucial to our fundraising and we look forward to a successful partnership with the firm.”