An eight week bereavement group, run by Sue Stokes/ Health Visitor and Ashley Lloyd/ Infant Mental Health Development Worker. Aimed at children aged 4-10 years.

We are now planning another group and are looking for referrals.
Offering support to children and carers; providing therapeutic activities. In an atmosphere of acceptance and allowance. Where each person is respected as an individual, and their experiences and memories are valued.

After evaluation of feedback from families; we now continue to meet once a month. A new drop in session to catch up and meet others who have attended previous sessions.

We offer contact details and information/ support from other agencies like Cruise Bereavement Services and the Childhood Bereavement Trust.
Recently accepting an offer of support for us from the CAMHS team.

We are continually learning from the very special people we meet who are admirably coping with the loss of a loved one.

Another part of the work is the natural creation of laughter and fun as well as a time for reflection and the acknowledgement of the pain children feel when grieving with moments of playfulness and togetherness.
Our Hedgehog Hunt continues to be an energetic favourite activity.

“We really enjoyed the centre, through play and art we all learned about our feelings, that it’s Ok to laugh or feel sad or cry, or be angry”
A quote from one of the participating families in the first group.

We realise the importance of an honest approach to death with age appropriate information and resources. Connecting with all aspects of life, the light and the dark.

With the support of other members of our team we are now working towards developing services for teenagers, which as expected needs a new approach.

We give out beautiful Linus quilts; kindly provided by the local Project Linus co-ordinator Margaret Boughton; made by many talented and generous individuals. They are greatly appreciated and treasured. One child took one away for her teenage brother to wrap around himself on the coach coming back from football.
It was pink with lots of sheep on, she was insistent he would love it. This may or may not have been true. But what is certain from our feedback, is that these quilts bring comfort and are sometimes used as transitional objects for children in times of need.

We have now got a new feelings tree,
Created by Janice from our Arts team.

The reward for us is immense. We have received many beautiful home made creations from the children, which are treasured. Sue has been depicted as a beautiful model in collages and is obviously considering a career in the fashion industry.

This work is obviously needed, proven by the demand and we continue to be committed to developing future services for bereaved children and their families.

With appreciation of the support and encouragement in developing and running this service from our managers.

For more information contact

Ashley
Infant Mental Health Development Worker.
07827944735