Liverpool Hope University present cheque to local charity

Liverpool Hope University’s Faculty of Education presented a generous cheque for £500 to a local charity.

The University, which sponsor The Educate Awards, won £500 after its students gave the highest number of responses to the National Student Survey. The students then decided on a charity of their choice to donate the money to.

The lucky recipient was the Oliver King Foundation, based in King David Primary School.

The Oliver King Foundation was set up in the name of King David Primary School pupil Oliver King, who passed away aged 12 due to Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The Oliver King Foundation aims to raise awareness about SADS, which commonly affects people aged between 12 and 35 years of age. It also funds ECG testing and buys defibrillators for schools and public places, and assists in providing training.

King David Primary School is one of Liverpool Hope University’s partner schools, and The Oliver King Foundation was nominated by student Jen Hardy.

Jen says: “Providing life-saving equipment and training around schools and the local community is vital, and something I feel we should support.”

Mr Mark King, Oliver’s dad and founder of the charity, gave a moving speech about SADS and demonstrated how easy it was to use a defibrillator, which if available can save a life.

Mr King says: “It was great to meet Jen, the student who had nominated us, and it is very encouraging to see that the work of the Oliver King Foundation has made such an impression on her.
“It is good to know that as she and her fellow students go on to work in education, they will also take with them an awareness of SADS and what measures can be put in place to help.”

Pictured: Mr Mark King (Oliver King Foundation), Liverpool Hope trainee teacher Jen Hardy and Head of School of Teacher Education Dr Jane Moore.