A REPLICA of Hogwarts School from Harry Potter is up for grabs in a raffle raising money for a children’s charity.

Oliver Dall, who runs the wizarding souvenir store Oliver’s in Trafalgar Street, North Laine has put the model into a prize draw to help Rockinghorse children’s charity.

Last year the 30-year-old visited children in the Royal Alexandra’s Children’s Hospital in Brighton, dressed an elf, to deliver wands to patients.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oliver is unable to do the same this year and instead came up with the idea of a charity raffle.

Oliver said: “We always like to do as much charity work as we can with Oliver’s Brighton.

“Last year around this time I went along and visited these amazingly brave children in various wards and I pretended to be an elf acting on behalf of Santa.

“We planned to do that again this year and I was going to take it a step further and act as Santa Claus.

“The reason we went with Rockinghorse is because they are a massive part of supplying the funding for children of the Royal Alexander Children’s Hospital.”

The Argus: Oliver DallOliver Dall

Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and aim to improve the lives of sick children throughout Sussex.

It believes no matter where they are, children should be allowed to be children.

Oliver said the charity’s ethos resonated with him because he uses his shop to bring a touch of magic into people’s lives.

He told The Argus: “It’s heart-wrenching to see the children at the very start of their lives in those circumstances.

“Especially around Christmas time, other children get to spend time at home with their families and some are stuck in hospital, and that sucks.

“The reason why we support them is because, other than NHS staff doing amazing work, there isn’t always enough money for specific equipment for the children.

“They help children to have the best experience they can while they are in hospital and keeps them on a positive note.

“It’s one of those things, it sounds really cheesy, but children all over the world should be able to use their imagination and have laughter.”

He hopes the raffle will raise at least £1,000 for the charity.

The raffle is open now and one entry for the Hogwarts competition costs £5.

To enter visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hogwartscastle?fbclid=IwAR2gvEDIO3TRBb7GPK9axKkttFp85EV9nO7-0TTim3lDRuw4Cha8tyV3n5Y.