Baby and toddler group celebrates double success

A local baby and toddler group is celebrating double success after receiving an official charity status and being shortlisted for an award.

The Jolly Josh group was awarded charitable status in April, just seven months after opening.

Started by the family of 15-month-old Josh Kelly, from Wardle, whose mum began the group as “a coping mechanism and distraction” after discovering there were no groups for young disabled children, it is inclusive of all children, especially those with disabilities and special needs.

Carole Kelly and her husband James are still yet to receive an official genetic diagnosis, but experts believe their son was suffering from mitochondrial disease. At the age of six months, it was confirmed Josh had experienced ‘extensive brain damage’ and his development regressed.

After his condition deteriorated, Josh was taken to Derian House children’s hospice. He died on 27 August 2017, just one month before Jolly Josh was due to begin; the group continues in his legacy.

Carole has since been shortlisted for a Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Award, the first awards to recognise members of the paid and unpaid workforce who go above and beyond to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.

She said: “Just being nominated for the award alone is wonderful, to be actually shortlisted is amazing. The awareness that it will raise for Jolly Josh across Manchester is incredible. Thank you so very much to my nominator.

“Thank you especially to my husband James for understanding that Jolly Josh was something that I needed to develop to help me as a coping mechanism, distraction and to create a legacy for Joshua, in addition to providing a service to myself and others that was previously unavailable. 

"I have received no salary or income since May 2017; we have been in receipt of no financial 'benefits' and we basically lost my teaching salary with no financial support.

“Yet James has supported my vision for Jolly Josh and encouraged me to take the time away from work to make Jolly Josh the success that it has become; this is something which I am very grateful for.

“Thank you to my family and friends who have supported me and the Jolly Josh vision.

“Thank you to the trustees who agreed to support Jolly Josh and have helped to achieve our success.

“We have achieved so much in just seven short months since opening and now we also have the ability to develop and expand with possible funding bids. We are absolutely thrilled.”

Approximately 400 nominations were received: the winner will be announced at a prestigious ceremony will take place at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry on Friday 13 July.

Jolly Josh is based at Springside School, Rochdale and meets on Wednesdays from 1.15pm to 3.30pm.