A DIRECTOR of a Bolton firm is urging other local companies to support smaller charities after the success of a Grand Ball she helped sponsor last week.

Kaye Price. from KP Financial Wellbeing. is an active supporter of the Once Upon A Smile charity which is based in Manchester.

This was founded in 2011 by soap stars Daniel Jillings from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks and Danny Miller from Emmerdale. They wanted to provide emotional and practical support for bereaved families who they felt were often left to grieve alone with little available support. This often had a devastating impact on family life and children.

Kaye, the mother of three children, became involved not long afterwards and organised a ladies’ lunch which raised £7,000 for the charity.

Since then she has supported them at many events and was a sponsor for their latest at Lancashire Cricket Club. This raised £50,000 and she also brought along other local businesses for support on the night.

“I feel strongly about Once Upon A Smile and want to help them in their amazing work, especially after the difficulties that smaller charities experienced during lockdown,” said Kaye, who lives in Horwich.

“As a parent, their work resonated with me. As a director of my own business, I felt I should take corporate responsibility by helping them.

“I liked the fact that they were giving practical help and support to grieving families from around the North-west.”

Kaye also believes that local businesses can greatly improve their own profile by linking up with local charities.

“It does help your public profile,” she added, “and it shows that your company cares about the local community and wants to offer real help to the people in it.”

Kaye now plans to partner with solicitor Nicola Walker of Private Client Solicitors, who is also from Bolton, to offer a package of practical financial and legal help to the charity’s families.

She added: “It feels worthwhile and right to be involved.”