1660
5250
Awards received by the foundation
On behalf of Oliver, Lewis and Zoe have received the following awards for the foundation.
Fundraiser of the year - nominated finalist.
09/01/2026
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We are delighted to have been selected, and nominated by a unknown source for this award. The awards evening will be held on the 9th of January 2026 and we will update thereafter.
Certificate of Achievement
14/09/2025
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This week, we were deeply honoured to be presented with a Certificate of Achievement by the Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Lyn Suddards, recognising our commitment, compassion, and tireless efforts in championing the LifeVac anti-choking device and raising public awareness about choking hazards.
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Receiving this award as Oliver’s parents is incredibly moving. It is not only a mark of recognition for the work we have done through The Oliver Steeper Foundation, but also a poignant reminder of why we do it. Oliver’s story is at the very heart of everything we do, and this award further fuels our determination to ensure that no other family has to endure the heartbreak we experienced.
We are truly grateful to Mayor Cllr Lyn Suddards for acknowledging the importance of our mission. Every LifeVac device placed into a childcare setting represents reassurance for parents, carers, and practitioners — and most importantly, the potential to save a life. To see this recognised at such a civic level gives us renewed strength to keep moving forward.
This certificate is more than an accolade; it is a symbol of shared community spirit. It reminds us that together, with the support of local leaders, early years providers, and families, we can continue to spread awareness, distribute devices, and prevent further tragedies.
In Oliver’s memory, we will keep striving to make a lasting difference. With each step, each conversation, and each device distributed, we carry him with us turning our grief into action and our loss into hope for others.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Mayor Lyn Suddards, for your recognition and encouragement.
Honorary Outstanding Contribution Award to the Early Years Sector
26/06/2025
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We are deeply honoured to accept the @EYAlliance Honorary Outstanding Contribution award, so kindly presented by Sarah Presswood.
This recognition is both humbling and profoundly moving for our family. Our determination to campaign for safer practice was born in the final hours of our son Oliver’s life.
Even before he passed away, we knew the childcare sector needed stronger safeguards around paediatric first aid, choking prevention, and food preparation that fully respect each child’s stage of development.
From our first conversation with Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Early Years Alliance, we experienced extraordinary professionalism and compassion. Neil’s steady guidance, often more like that of a father than a friend has underpinned every step of our advocacy and provided us with a compassionate shoulder and a fire for change.
Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance Chief Executive
His public stance beside us against proposals to dilute staff-to-child ratios, which he called “beyond frustrating,” reflects the same fierce commitment to children’s safety that he has shown us privately and we are truly grateful for all his efforts.
We do not feel we “deserve” this award; we have simply done what any parents would do to prevent another family enduring such a loss. Nonetheless, we accept it with gratitude on behalf of Oliver, and we strive forward and continue to fight for reforms, mandatory paediatric first aid, rigorous feeding protocols, and staffing ratios that put children’s wellbeing first.
Thank you to Neil, Sarah, Shannon and the entire Early Years Alliance team for their unwavering support. Together, we will keep pushing for the changes our youngest deserve.