SLM Group Supports Nelson's Journey With Toyota Community Fund

Through Toyota’s Community Fund, SLM Toyota recently secured a £1,800 donation for Nelson’s Journey - a Norfolk-based charity dedicated to helping bereaved children and young people to understand and cope with their feelings following the loss of a significant person in their lives.

• Who is Nelson's Journey?

  Nelson’s Journey is a Norfolk-based charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. Established in 1997, the organisation provides a range of services, including one-to-one support, therapeutic group activities, and residential weekends, aimed at helping young people understand and cope with their grief. Nelson’s Journey works closely with families, schools, and professionals to ensure bereaved children receive the emotional support they need to rebuild their confidence and move forward with their lives. The charity’s mission is to bring back smiles to the faces of bereaved children across Norfolk. 

• What is the Toyota Community Fund?

  The Toyota Community Fund is a programme which offers grants of up to £2000 to local charities, schools and community projects- aiming to enhance the quality of life and environment in communities across the UK. SLM Toyota have used this funding to support Nelson’s Journey for over 6 years. 

• Making a Difference with Nelson’s Journey

  Thanks to the generous support of the Toyota Community Fund, Nelson’s Journey has been able to provide two separate therapeutic residential weekends for bereaved children and young people. These specialised weekends offer a safe, supportive space where participants can process their grief alongside others who truly understand what they are going through. Carefully structured and thoughtfully planned, each weekend was limited to a maximum of 25 children per session. This ensured that everyone received personalised attention and support from Nelson’s Journey’s experienced staff and trained volunteers. Residential weekends catered to two distinct age groups – 8 to 12 years and 12 to 17 years – helping children and young people connect with others at a similar stage in life who share common experiences of loss.

• Therapeutic Weekends

  The first therapeutic weekend took place in November 2024 at the Hilltop Activity Centre in Sheringham, Norfolk. Over two days, children participated in a variety of activities designed to support emotional expression, build resilience, and create lasting memories. A second residential weekend followed in 2025, welcoming a new group of young people and offering them the same opportunity to receive specialist bereavement support in a nurturing environment. Both weekends focused on reducing feelings of isolation and helping children and young people rebuild their self-confidence and self-esteem.

• Supporting Healing Through Meaningful Activities

  Held at Hilltop’s beautiful woodland setting, the weekends combined therapeutic sessions with fun and adventure. The schedule was filled with meaningful activities that gently encouraged emotional healing, peer connection, and personal growth. Some of the key activities included:

  • Memory Preservation Projects – Children created personalised memory jars and memory tiles, honouring and celebrating their loved ones.
  • Interactive Group Work – Participants engaged in group discussions, including watching and reflecting on Grief in the Family, which helped them share their own feelings and experiences.
  • Doctor’s Q&A Session – Children had the chance to ask health-related questions in a safe and supportive setting.
  • Outdoor Activities – Confidence and team-building challenges, such as high ropes courses and zip lines, encouraged participants to step out of their comfort zones and support one another.
  • Night Walk – A peaceful and reflective evening walk through the woods, guided by staff and volunteers, offered quiet time to think and connect under the stars.
  • Campfire Gathering – Children, staff, and volunteers came together around a warm campfire, sharing stories, singing songs, and enjoying a sense of community and togetherness.
  • Pets as Therapy Dogs – The comforting presence of therapy dogs provided a source of calm and emotional support throughout the weekends.
  • Candle-Lighting Ceremony – One of the most touching moments, where everyone gathered to light candles in memory of their loved ones in a heartfelt tribute.

• Parents and carers were not forgotten during these weekends. They were invited to join dedicated sessions aimed at offering reassurance and fostering shared healing experiences. These sessions provided valuable opportunities to connect with others who understood their journey and ensured that no one had to face grief alone. With the help of trained staff, dedicated volunteers, and the support of the Toyota Community Fund, Nelson’s Journey was able to offer these transformative weekends to children and families in Norfolk. We are incredibly proud to have played a part in supporting this vital work, helping to bring comfort, guidance, and hope to those who need it most.

• Gary Stevens, Funding & Marketing Manager at Nelson’s Journey

  'We’re delighted that Toyota have awarded us a grant via their Fund for a Better Tomorrow programme. We are grateful that Toyota recognise the importance of the work we are doing, and we’d like to thank them for their ongoing support. We’d also like to thank SLM Group for assisting us with the application'. 

• In addition to this, we are proud to announce that we are sponsoring Nelson's Journey’s upcoming Abseil Challenge, taking place on Saturday, 15th March. This exciting event will see brave participants take on a daring descent, all in the name of raising vital funds to support bereaved children and young people. We’re thrilled to be part of this challenge and look forward to seeing the community come together to make a lasting impact.

• 25 years of Nelson’s Journey

  SLM group also supported Nelson’s Journey’s ‘NJ 25 Campaign’, which was launched in 2022 to celebrate 25 years of their amazing work. This campaign involved 20 businesses joining together to collectively fund the salary of a child bereavement worker- which supported more than 100 children. In addition to this, each quarter SLM Group donates £1 for every new and used car sold. We would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers who have helped raise this money over the years. 

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