The Builders Arms is holding a street party this Sunday, 4 May to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day.

The roads around the pub will be closed and from midday onward, the pub is inviting customers, neighbours, and the local community to enjoy a good old-fashioned family 'pub' day to celebrate.

Food will be available from 1pm - 3pm and there will be lots of fun and games to keep everyone entertained, including a dog talent show, tug of war, beer pong, and a cake sale .

All money raised will be donated to The Purple Elephant Project (PEP).  

PEP is a children's mental health charity, dedicated to supporting children affected by trauma, instability, and loss.

Through high-quality art and play therapy, it offers a safe, nurturing space for children as young as four to process difficult experiences, express themselves, and begin to heal.

The Purple Elephant Project is a children's mental health charity for children aged four - 16 who are struggling with complex mental health issues using the creative arts (Credit: The Purple Elephant Project)

Last year, the charity worked with over 330 families, delivered over 4,400 therapy sessions and provided outreach in over 35 schools. 

Over the past few weeks, the vital therapeutic support it provides has been put at serious risk.

The Government's Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF), which funds therapy for over 50 of PEP's children, has been cut by 40% and is facing significant rollout delays, with no clear solution in place.

Previous delays in renewal had already created a huge backlog of applications at the charity and this situation has now been worsened by the reduced funding, leaving families uncertain about whether their children can continue receiving the care they so desperately need.

Unless the charity can raise emergency funds, it will only be able to continue supporting these families until mid-May.

After that, children in crisis will face an immediate end to their therapy, potentially leading to placement breakdowns, emotional harm, loss of education, severe mental health challenges, and immense pressure on carers. 

PEP set up an urgent appeal on 1 April and needs support help to bridge the gap between now and a long-term solution.

This solution will take time, but the funding gap is immediate, meaning it simply will not be able to meet demand.

Nina Bradburn, Fundraising Consultant for The Purple Elephant Project said: "We are so grateful to the Builders Arms for supporting our charity: helping us create awareness and funds to support our work, especially at this crucial time."

PEP is asking people to donate today to help it ensure that vulnerable children do not lose access to the therapeutic care they need and deserve, and that the charity remains a safe space where vulnerable children continue to receive the care they need to heal and thrive.

How your donations can help:

PEP  urgently needs to raise £50,000 to keep therapy running through this critical transition.

It costs £4,000 per week to support 50 children with one-to-one therapy.

100% of donations will go directly toward delivering these sessions.

You can donate here.