7:30am Thursday 27th December 2012
IN 70 per cent of schools in the UK, there will be at least one pupil dealing with the pain of bereavement at any given time.
Kemp Hospice has been working with schools as part of their Kemp for Kids programme, the new service to make practical and emotional support available for every bereaved child and young person in the Wyre Forest and surrounding area.
With the agreement of the school, Kemp works with bereaved children while they are at school to help them find ways of coping with the grief and confusion that follows the loss of someone close to them.
They provide one-to-one support, which gives the child an opportunity to discuss how they feel with an experienced bereavement support specialist.
Group work sessions can also be provided that includes the child’s family members and friends.
Memory jars and boxes can be made to help youngsters hold on to the memories they have.
Support, advice and training for school staff is also offered. This is especially important because it’s the staff who will be relating to the bereaved child day-by-day while they’re at school.
Kemp Hospice also understands that school budgets are stretched so they make no charge for their services.
In return, the school is asked to organise a fund-raising event within a year of the provided training.
Kemp aims to raise £30,000 in 30 weeks through its Children’s Appeal to help deliver a range of programmes around the district to support bereaved children.
The appeal is being run in association with The Shuttle, which will feature appeal updates every week in a bid to help the hospice reach its target as quickly as possible.
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