Jolly Josh named as Littleborough Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year

Jolly Josh

Jolly Josh has been named as Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year by the Littleborough store on Harehill Road.

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

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, where he died on 27 August 2017, just one month before Jolly Josh was due to begin.

The Jolly Josh group continues in his legacy, based at Springside School, Rochdale meeting on Wednesdays from 1.15pm to 3.30pm.