News

One of our many fabulous fundraisers kick started January on a high by taking part in Red January in order to raise funds and awareness of OLLIE. The movement which aims to help people support their mental wellbeing through exercise was completed by one of our wonderful supporters, Donna Fellowes who successfully completed the challenge…

Our 2019 social took place on Monday 4th January at The Peahen, St Albans. The event was a chance for us to not only say a special thank you to our supporters old and new, but it was also a great opportunity to meet so many of them in person and hear their stories about…

A film made to highlight the struggles of talking about losing a loved one to suicide was shown at the Odyssey cinema on Monday 28th January. The film entitled ‘Evelyn’ is a real-life journey of a Families grief and healing which shows raw emotion and demonstrates the struggles they have faced in coming to terms…

We were lucky enough to be chosen as the glad receivers of donations made in aid of the 2018 Christmas display at Jo’s Pocket Garden. Jo who is an amateur garden designer has a passion for her work, she particularly loves seasonal displays and the smile they put on people’s faces. The garden is a…

The fourth annual polar bear plunge took place on Tuesday 1st January 2019. A record-breaking number of participants started the new year on high whilst raising nearly £10,000 which is to be distributed between Earthworks St Albans, The Counselling Foundation as well as OLLIE and further donations being made to charities of the plungers choice.…

The annual Napsbury Christmas market took place on 9th December and was once again a popular event in the heart of the local community. As well as stalls filled with handmade gifts and offerings from local businesses, this year saw a Santa’s grotto, a Napsbury first which proved to be a big hit with the…

This year we were lucky enough to have been a chosen charity for the infamous St Albans bach Choir Christmas Concert. Proceeds from the event were generously donated to OLLIE, to which we are extremely grateful for. The evening concert which took place on the 8th December was hosted in the beautiful St Albans Abbey…

From 1st-15th December, local art gallery Nude Tin Can is showcasing the first exhibition of Louise Gendrot aka LouZyArt. LouZy’s work is described as model making infused with hidden installations. Inspired by London grit, modern society and conceptual ideas, they are a culmination of large sculptures and hidden scenes, creating a vibrant and interesting exhibition for…

On Thursday 4th October some of the best of business gathers at The Noke St Albans Mecure for the revered Community Business Awards. There were 9 award categories ranging from Best Restaurant to Green Business. OLLIE’s co-ordinator (now operations manager) Verity Bramwell was shortlisted for Young Employee 2018, an award sponsored by Oaklands College. Verity…

The Postcode Community Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. OLLIE wanted to ensure that the state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead were able to access OLLIE’s training, so we applied to the People’s Community Trust to remove any financial barriers so that all the state secondary schools could…