Meet the seven-year-old Northampton girl who is doing everything she can to raise money for the NHS

A young girl from Northampton has taken it upon herself to come up with creative ways to raise money for the NHS.

Sophia Massey has camped outside with her dad and is now running a ‘guess how many sweets are in the jar’ competition as she wants to do what she can to help.

As well as raising money for the healthcare heroes fighting the coronavirus pandemic, the seven-year-old who attends Duston Eldean Primary School, has also been helping to lift spirits in her local neighbourhood.

Carla Massey, Sophia’s mum, said: “When she’s been listening on the news and talking to us, she has said she wanted to help.

“Sophia has seen what people are giving up and that they’re missing their families so she wanted to help the brave staff.

“She wanted to do her part as she could see everyone else doing what they are doing.

“My husband and I are both key workers so she is keen to make sure the message is out there to thank the key workers.”

From her camp-out and the start of her sweet competition, Sophia has already raised more than £200 for NHS Charities Together, which is an organisation supporting staff, volunteers and patients impacted by COVID-19.

Carla added: “It all started when she camped out for the NHS with her dad. When she’d done that she was saying ‘what else can I do?’

“She decided to set up a guess how many sweets are in the jar competition outside our house for our neighbours and delivered Easter cards to our neighbours, as well as posters.

“Sophia has also drawn rainbows in chalk on the ground and in the window for our carers.

“She’s got quite a grown up head on her shoulders. She likes to get involved and she doesn’t like to sit quietly.”

To thank her for her contribution, Northampton General Hospital has also awarded Sophia with a charity award.

“An ICU nurse who lives near us said what a difference it makes to other people,” Carla continued.

“She managed to get Sophia a charity award from the hospital to show she was part of the team. She got a certificate and a badge.”

While the lockdown continues Carla says her daughter has got loads of projects on the go, as she works towards her charity badge for the Brownies and towards the HUGG (huge, unbelievably great goal), which is a pay-it-forward initiative at her school.

To donate to Sophia’s cause, visit her JustGiving page.

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