Using acrylic paints, John carefully crafts a unique pebble design for every child we support, as well as their siblings, offering a small but heartfelt token during an unimaginably tough time. His designs have ranged from superheroes like Spiderman to popular characters like Thomas the Tank Engine, Peppa Pig, and Bluey, and an array of Disney characters and popular animals. Each pebble is a labour of love, taking John anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day to perfect.

Talking about how he started pebble painting, John said: “About seven years ago, I used to hide pebbles in the playground of my granddaughter’s school – the children used to love hunting for them! Word got around about the pebbles, and in 2018, a lady at the school asked me to paint one for her friend, Charlotte, whose son Thomas had sadly passed away. The design was a silhouette of her husband Wyn and other son, Benji, looking up at Thomas, who was now a special star in the sky. The family had been supported by Momentum and that’s how I found out about the charity and how I could help other families. I paint the pebbles at home in the lounge, leaving paint marks everywhere, much to my wife’s delight!”

John added: “The most unusual request I’ve had for a pebble is for a scary nun design, I’ve done five or six Thomas the Tank Engines, and the Anime characters are very popular now. I enjoy attending Momentum events where children are involved in painting pebbles – I love seeing the joy they get out of painting.”

We’re always excited to welcome new volunteers – whether you can spare just a few hours once or join us on a regular basis. From fundraising and lending a hand in the office, to cheering at events, there’s a role to suit every skill, schedule, and personality. Whatever time you can give, you will be making a real difference.

Discover the many ways you can get involved and find the perfect volunteering opportunity for you here