In a powerful gesture of love, legacy, and healing, Cheryl has officially launched The Cheryl & Bear Foundation, a charitable initiative created in memory of Liam Payne and inspired by the shared son they raised, Bear Grey Payne.
The foundation, announced quietly in a press release this morning, aims to support bereaved children and young people who have lost a parent—providing mental health support, art therapy, community programs, and crisis grants for families navigating unimaginable grief.
Within hours of the launch, the foundation had already secured over £10 million in first-year donations, with major backing from global celebrities, private donors, and even members of the One Direction family.
“For Bear. For Every Child Left Behind.”
The foundation’s mission is deeply personal.
“Liam always said that our son gave him purpose,” Cheryl shared in an emotional statement. “Now, in his name, we want to give that same sense of hope and safety to children who have lost the most important person in their world.”
The charity is designed to be as far-reaching as it is intimate, offering:
- Grief counseling and trauma-informed therapy for children under 18
- Family support retreats, where parents and guardians can rebuild alongside their children
- In-school programs focused on mental well-being and expression through music, writing, and art
- Emergency financial relief for single-parent households impacted by sudden loss
The foundation’s first initiative, called “The Bear Hug Programme,” will distribute comfort kits to thousands of children newly bereaved, containing plush toys, storybooks on grief, and a letter from Bear himself—written with Cheryl’s help.
United in Purpose: The Payne and 1D Families Step In
What makes this foundation uniquely poignant is the collective effort behind it.
Sources close to the Payne family confirmed that Liam’s parents, sisters, and cousins have all offered their full support, with Bear’s godparents reportedly helping shape the charity’s long-term strategy.
Even members of One Direction—including Harry Styles and Niall Horan—have made quiet, substantial donations and signaled support on social media. One tweet from Louis Tomlinson read simply:
“He loved that boy more than anything. This is exactly what Liam would’ve wanted.”
A Foundation Rooted in Grief, Growing in Love
Experts in child bereavement have praised the foundation’s timing and thoughtfulness, calling it “a landmark moment for advocacy and awareness.”
Cheryl has vowed to remain hands-on with the work, already slated to speak at a youth mental health summit later this year, where she’ll discuss parenting through grief and finding strength in memory.
“Bear knows who his daddy was,” Cheryl said softly in the foundation’s video tribute. “This is for every child who needs to know they’re not alone.”
To donate, learn more, or request support, visit: www.cherylandbearfoundation.org
Because even in loss, love can lead.
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