Group work with bereaved children

A prime aim is to reduce the isolation frequently felt by bereaved children and young people and to enable them to meet others who have also been bereaved.

After a home visit to assess the needs of each bereaved family, we may offer one or more of the following group activities:

• residential weekend groups for children aged 6 to 18
• simultaneous weekends for parents and carers
• specialised group work for those affected by a death through suicide, murder or manslaughter 
• specialised group work for parents with pre-school aged children
• social-therapeutic activities to maintain links and friendships made at the residential weekends.

The majority of families coming to the residential weekends are from Gloucestershire, West Sussex and the surrounding areas.  However, weekends for families who have experienced death by suicide, murder or manslaughter are for anyone living in the UK.  For families living outside Gloucestershire and West Sussex we have to charge a fee to cover the cost, this is often funded by the local Primary Care Trust.  At present the costs for the suicide, murder and manslaughter weekends are funded by grants so there is no direct charge to families.