Olivia Jefferies aged 18 died tragically on June 12 2011 in a car accident.  

Since the age of 11 Livi has had a very keen interest in supporting and helping children, particularly with special needs. She had an association with Bardwell School through work experience. Livi had a special bond with these children and in memory of this her family and friends have decided to have an ongoing program of fundraising and volunteering events for Bardwell School, Bicester. http://www.bardwell.oxon.sch.uk/ 

How you can help?

What do they need at Bardwell School?  

Volunteer’s to help the teachers and children during School holidays or any spare time you have, contact the school directly for more information regarding what you can do to help.

Plus their major project is to build and equip a centre designed specifically for communication and interaction. 

What is the communication and interaction centre?

Communication and Interaction is central to the work at Bardwell School. It is an essential skill for life and facilitates vital links with the wider community. Pupils find communication hard for many different reasons. Physical difficulties such as cerebral palsy and motor co-ordination problems can affect speech. Learning difficulties may delay speech or the understanding of spoken language. Pupils with special educational needs on the autistic spectrum often find social use of language and the rules of conversation and interaction puzzling. They need to be taught how to interpret emotions, facial expressions, gesture and body language.

On the 7 and 21 September 2011 a team of volunteers went to Bardwell School sponsored by DHL, to give a face-lift to the sensory garden, this is a calm and peaceful area within the school grounds for the children to reflect and have quiet time in a safe environment. During these two days, there was lots of excellent work undertaken which included Painting, Gardening, and general D.I.Y.  

There are some before and after photographs for you to see if you click on the photo album.

Since we launched this website for the fundraising for Bardwell so many generous donations have been received. Thank you all so much for helping to keep Olivia’s memory alive through this Just Giving Charity. There have been two major fundraising events one in Qatar where Livi had special friends and locally in Bicester and between them they raised over £3,000. 

Bardwell are investing the money on an on going basis so far they have purchased I Pads, Sensory Aids and are now looking to invest in Eye Tracking Equipment for the pupils who have limited movements.

I am attending Bardwell school on the 20th July to present Livi's annual award to the volunteer student who this year has excelled in her duties. On the 4th July I presented an award in Livi's memory at her school Oxford High to a pupil who had supported and contributed to the Year 7 group with their reading studies.