The importance of our work supporting bereaved children has again been recognised by Children in Need.
The charity has awarded us a new grant of £39,070 to help fund our Children and Teenagers Support (CATS) service as well as helping to cover the cost of face-to-face and online counselling, youth groups, art and music therapy, mindfulness sessions and more for the next 12 months.
Our Children’s Service co-ordinator Buddhika Arachchige said the team strives to offer safe and comfortable spaces for children and their grown ups to express their feelings of loss and grief in a supported way.
They also provide ad hoc training to school staff in eastern Hertfordshire so they can learn how to support pupil who have experienced a loss as well as CATS groups in schools organised collaboratively with head teachers.
“The positive impact of the Children’s Service on the local community over the past few years has been well commended by the families and schools that we have supported,” Buddhika said.
“Without proper and timely support, experiences of grief in childhood can have a devastating impact as children grow up, so we are delighted that Children in Need have once again recognised the importance of our work by awarding this substantial grant.”
What our families say:
“Art therapy has been a huge support to my two children during a very dark and challenging time in their lives whilst their dad has been receiving cancer treatment. My daughter normally isn’t very open about her feelings, however with the art therapist’s soft and caring approach, she is now sharing her thoughts and feelings. As a parent, I am so proud of their progress.”
