We thought we would publish a kind letter received by Red Balloon, aknowledging 4K Construction’s support for helping to create awareness for James Bulger House, a centre that Red Balloon hope to build in Merseyside for children who have suffered from bullying.

Copy of letter below

Support for Red Balloon Merseyside – James Bulger House

Dear Kirk,

Thank you for your encouragement and wholehearted support! Red Balloon Learner Centre Group and Red Balloon Merseyside is grateful to have this support and also your willingness to do more to raise awareness of James Bulger House and of our wider work. Individuals like you can really make a huge difference.

You’ve kindly offered your vast experience in construction when we find a property that will become James Bulger House and for that alone, you, your colleagues and associates will make a massive contribution to this project and are thankful for having your expertise and good will in equal measure.

Every penny and pound raised will go towards making this fitting memorial to James Bulger a reality.

Of the 6.1 million 10 to 17 year olds in the UK, about one in one thousand has been bullied to the point that he/she has left the mainstream educational system. This represents more than six thousand children who are out of school every day.

The aim of Red Balloon is the recovery of these children. Each centre provides an ‘intensive care’ full-time education for children who are unable to go to school because they have been so severely bullied. At least half of the students accepted have attempted or seriously considered suicide.

Each student is promised a safe environment with clear boundaries for behaviour, and an individual full-time academic, pastoral and therapeutic programme.  Once they have regained their confidence and are able to cope academically and socially, they are supported in their return to mainstream school, their entry to further education or to employment. Our success rate for recovery is 95% for children who stay longer than six weeks, with 79% of our students returning to fulltime education. Of these, 30% go on to university. From having zero attendance at school, our children attend at Red Balloon for over 90% of the time.

Thanks again Kirk for your support.

Yours sincerely

John Quinn

Development Director

Red Balloon Learner Centre Group