Royal recognition for Wearside charity champion

Viv Watts, chief executive of Hope 4 Kidz, received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from King Charles at an investiture ceremony in Windsor Castle after raising millions of pounds for needy people and good causes in the city since 1977.

Hope 4 Kidz was established with the aim of giving children and young people a sense of hope for their future – supporting youngsters who require extra care, living with a serious or prolonged illness, or in need of respite from poverty or abuse.

The charity is also the Sunderland Echo’s partner in the annual Christmas and Easter appeals.

She said: “An OBE was never something I thought I would receive but I’ll never forget it.

"The greatest honour was to receive it from King Charles at Windsor Castle.”

She added: “He was very warm and welcoming and immediately put me at ease.

"He congratulated me then asked where I was from, about the charity and would I continue with my charity work. Then it was all over too quickly.

“It was wonderful that my husband Ron, our daughter Anneline Dowell, her husband Andy and our lovely grandson Levison, were there to see it.

"My special thanks go to Anneline and the people who, unknown to me, nominated me for the honour.”

Viv first started raising money for local causes in 1977 by running fundraising parties at care homes.

Four years later – and while running her own bridal and lingerie business in the city – she took over the city’s Mecca Ballroom and brought together 1,500 people for a fashion show to support the Grindon Hall Appeal, supporting adults with special needs to live independently.

Since then, she has raised a staggering £6m for good causes in the area.

She said: “The Mecca event was when I first realised the difference that can be made getting people in the community involved in supporting people who need help.”

Since then, Viv’s fundraising efforts include helping raised over £210,000 for a scanner at Sunderland Royal Hospital in1989, raising funds for the Cancer Research STEM Cell Appeal, respite holidays for children with special needs and a paediatric scanner for Sunderland Royal Hospital.

She also organised a open air concert for 10,000 people – starring Ronan Keating – to raise cash to support free family fun days, themed parties for children with special needs and a Christmas Party every year.

Viv co-founded Hope 4 Kidz with the late Brian Dodds in 2007 and promised she would keep it running after his passing in 2019.

Even a stroke in 2023 didn’t stop Viv delivering on that promise and she was able to completed the charity’s Coronation Garden project at Pennywell community Centre – which supports unemployed people to improve their job prospects, autism support charity ESPA and local volunteers.

Viv hopes the national honour will provide a boost for Hope 4 Kidz.

She said: “I got involved with charity work because I believe in giving something back to the community for the good life I have had.

"I feel very humbled to have received this award – but very proud of the recognition it brings for Hope 4 Kidz and the work it does."