Elsie Morgan-Williams, 9, and her brother Arthur, 8, from Blunsdon, organised a toy sale with friends during the summer holidays. Their efforts raised £9.50 for Wiltshire Treehouse, which supports bereaved children and families across the county.
What began as a small fundraising idea has since grown into a wider community campaign after their parents discovered what the pair had been doing.
Their mum, Becky, said she had no idea they had been selling their own belongings until Elsie came upstairs saying she had “run out of things to sell.” She said:
“My stomach clenched and we asked them both what they were doing.
“At first they were worried they were in trouble. Arthur had a handful of coins and they said they wanted to raise money to support the charity which had supported us. It broke me.
“I was overwhelmed at their motivation to do such a thing and Tom and I wish to support them to raise money for an organisation which has given us, as a family, so much support.”
Wiltshire Treehouse first began supporting the family after the death of Elsie and Arthur’s father, Joe Morgan, in 2018.
Joe was diagnosed with bowel cancer while Becky was pregnant with Arthur. He died when Arthur was six months old, just two weeks before he and Becky were due to marry.
Becky has since married Tom, who has adopted Elsie and Arthur. Together they also have a young son, Hudson.
As the children grew older, Becky said they began to need more support to understand and process their grief.
She said: “When Elsie started school I realised that she was getting upset and starting to understand that she was a little different and that other children’s dads could pick them up from school or attend school events.
“I reached out to Wiltshire Treehouse for support for them both and the charity was wonderful. They are so open, they supported the children to understand and honour their dad and showed them they were not alone.”
The family suffered another devastating loss in 2023 when Becky and Tom’s daughter, Mabel, died aged six days after suffering a brain injury during birth. Wiltshire Treehouse once again provided support to the family.
She said:
“After we lost Mabel, Wiltshire Treehouse contacted us when they realised what had happened and once again they have stepped in to help us all process and deal with this terrible loss.”
Inspired by the children’s fundraising, Becky has helped launch an online appeal with a target of £650.
She is encouraging local businesses and residents to donate, provide toys and resources for the children to sell during the summer holidays, or match the amount they raise.
Kath Brownlee, Service Director at Wiltshire Treehouse, said:
“We’ve worked with Arthur and Elsie for a number of years, supporting them with the bereavement of their Daddy and, in more recent years, following the death of their sister Mabel.
“It has always been a pleasure to work alongside them, and to see them take it upon themselves to fundraise for us doesn’t surprise me at all. They have always been wholly thoughtful and caring children.
“They really have helped to shine a light on our charity, as well as raising vital funds that will go to help other bereaved children like them.”
Becky hopes the children’s determination to give back will encourage others to support the charity. She said:
“As a family, we’ve received incredible support from Wiltshire Treehouse during the most difficult times of our lives. Arthur and Elsie wanted to give something back completely on their own, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
At the time of writing, the youngsters were close to reaching their £650 fundraising target.
Anyone wishing to support Elsie and Arthur’s fundraising can donate through their online fundraising page.
More information about Wiltshire Treehouse is available on the charity’s website.
