Charlotte's charity set to open its doors (From Wirral Globe)

Charlotte's charity set to open its doors

12:00pm Saturday 13th October 2012 in News By Stephanie Cureton

THE charity set up in memory of Wirral car crash victim Charlotte Churchill is finally set to open its doors.

The 19-year-old's mum, Angie, is hoping to have the Charlotte’s Brightside CLC centre fully up and running by January next year after they were given the keys to the new premises today.

The charity, which was launched following the nursery nurse’s tragic death last year, aims to provide a meeting place for local youngsters where they can hang out and take part in fun activities.

Following a string of fundraising events, including two music festivals and a birthday ball, Brightside now has a home in Molyneux Drive, New Brighton.

And Angie, from Wallasey, is looking forward to getting the building up to scratch for its visitors.

She said: "We have been waiting for a while to get everything approved and signed but now we can finally announce where our premises will be.

"We have already had builders offer their time and also offer spare equipment which is great so we all just want to get stuck in now and get things going.

"I had a proper look round the other day and it was quite scary but also exciting at the same time how much needed to be done!”

Former Weatherhead High School student Charlotte died in April 2011 when the car in which she was a passenger hit a tree.

But her death inspired her family and friends to come together to fundraise in her memory and eventually go on to create Brightside – named after her favourite song by The Killers.

And Angie said her daughter would be “very impressed” by what her loved ones have achieved in such a short space of time.

She said: "When I look back at what we have done in just over a year it is incredible and I never thought that when we all sat down for the first time a few months after Charlotte died that it would grow as huge as this.

"I don’t think she would believe how much we have done but I know she would be so proud and would love that it is all in her memory!"

Brightside will be open to children aged eight to 16 years old and will offer them workshops in music and arts as well as giving them somewhere to meet new people.

It is hoped that the charity will continue to grow across Merseyside and eventually be open to all ages.

Angie added: "At the moment we are putting in a bid to get a mini-bus so we can pick up and drop off kids from different parts of Wallasey to ensure they get home safely.

"But we have big plans to eventually develop throughout Wirral and later on across Merseyside which would be amazing.

"We would also love to open it up to younger children and even adults so we still have a way to go!"