Evelyn Smith was just seven years old when she died suddenly in 2013 after a misdiagnosed upper airway infection. Her unexpected passing left her family, friends, and the Warwick community in shock. Despite her mother Helen Smith’s efforts to perform CPR, Evelyn could not be saved due to a blocked airway.
In her memory, Helen founded the charity Evelyn’s Gift in 2014, which officially launched the following year at an event in the Warwick Arms Hotel. The charity focuses on two main goals: offering acts of kindness to people in need and promoting CPR and defibrillator training in the local area.
To advance this mission, Helen collaborated with her friend Jan Grewal and Tim Morris, practice manager at Waterside Medical Centre. Together with Nick Shacklock, chair of Warwick District First Responders, they created Warwickshire Hearts. This joint effort brought together training and first responder roles under one organisation. Since its founding, Warwickshire Hearts has trained more than 10,000 people in CPR and defibrillator use, continuing to work closely with Evelyn’s Gift.
Tim Morris expressed his thanks to the charity: “Through our collaboration, we’ve equipped thousands in Leamington, Warwick, and surrounding areas with life-saving skills. Immediate CPR can make all the difference.” To mark a decade of partnership, Warwickshire Hearts will conduct training sessions this month at Coten End Primary School.
Beyond life-saving skills, Evelyn’s Gift also carries out numerous confidential acts of kindness, inspired by Evelyn’s caring nature. Helen said, “Even at a young age, Evelyn understood how important kindness was. It doesn’t fix everything, but it can change someone’s day.” Over the last ten years, the charity’s outreach has expanded. Referrals now come from social services, schools, health professionals, and other charities.
Examples of the charity’s kindness include providing equipment for disabled children, food and clothing for survivors of domestic abuse, equine therapy to support mental health, help with funeral costs for children, and essential items for victims of modern slavery.
Bereavement support is another central part of the charity’s work. Evelyn’s Gift distributes special packs to help children under 10 who are dealing with loss. These include books and information about support services and are delivered through schools or loaned to families on request. Around 500 of these packs have been shared across Warwickshire. The charity also helps fund fingerprint memorial jewellery for grieving parents and provides funding for a bereavement support group run by Warwickshire Therapy.
As the charity approaches its 10th anniversary, schools including Warwick Preparatory and Coten End Primary will collect toiletries, toys, and activity items for children entering emergency care. The Morrisons Foundation has also donated £5,000 to fund care bags for these children.
Evelyn’s Gift works closely with Warwickshire County Council’s Children’s Services, helping to fund trips for siblings in separate care placements and supporting university packs and hampers for care leavers.
Over the years, the charity has supported many local organisations including Myton Hospices, Acorns Hospice, Safeline, and the LWS and LNS night shelters. It has also contributed to the Warwick Town Christmas Lunch and projects at St Michael’s Hospital.
All of this work is made possible through partnerships and donations from local schools, businesses, charitable foundations, and individuals. Helen expressed her gratitude to supporters such as The Croft School, Morrisons, Tesco, Warwick Rotary and Lions Clubs, Warwick Town Council, and many others who have helped build Evelyn’s legacy.
The Mayor of Warwick for 2024–2025, Councillor David Skinner, selected Evelyn’s Gift as one of his chosen charities, raising £3,000 during his term. As a volunteer-run organisation, every donation goes directly to helping people in need.
Reflecting on the milestone, Helen said, “The sudden and preventable loss of Evelyn remains deeply painful, but I find comfort in knowing that her short life continues to touch others. Everything we do is inspired by her.”
