SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE
Support for bereaved children and young people in Coventry and Warwickshire
Guy’s Gift provides bereavement support for children, young people and their families across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Taking our first referrals for support in 2009, we have supported over 4500 children and young people to process their feelings following a significant bereavement.
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There are lots of ways you can get involved and help Guy’s Gift from volunteering, to fundraising, to spreading the word.
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This August, we’re inviting our community to do something unforgettable for bereaved children and young people across Coventry and Warwickshire.
This Thursday, we are pleased to begin another in-person bereavement support group in Leamington for children and young people.
Next week, we are pleased to welcome children to the latest virtual bereavement support group for children and young people across Coventry and Warwickshire.
When faced with death and dying, whether in the roiling storm of anticipation or the harrowing emptiness of grief, words about new life can feel irrelevant and irritating. Any attempt to soothe by speaking of the cycles of life can unbearable. There is no doubt, though, that the experience of being within nature during the worst days of our lives can be helpful. It can somehow relieve the weight of loss.
As exam season approaches each year, the focus often turns to revision timetables, performance, and results. However, for some young people, there is something far heavier sitting alongside their studies: grief.
Are softer words actually helping, or are they making something difficult even harder to understand?
A milestone is a moment we often look forward to with hope and excitement. For young people, this might be starting secondary school, passing exams, graduating, going to prom, celebrating birthdays, or navigating other important life transitions.
These moments are usually associated with pride and celebration. However, for children and young people who have experienced the death of someone important, milestones can also carry a quiet ache, highlighting the absence of the person they wish could be there to share it with them.
Have a read of Ellie’s Volunteering Story to find out about her journey at Guy’s Gift and how she has become the wonderful volunteer that she is today.
If you are mourning during Ramadan, know that grief is a deeply personal journey, and it’s okay to experience a mix of emotions. Islam acknowledges the pain of loss, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself grieved openly for his loved ones. Have a read of some ways to find comfort and strength during this time.
When a loved one sadly becomes end of life in hospital, their friends and family can find themselves spending a lot of time in hospital too. From our experience over the past 15 years of working with bereaved families, we know the importance of providing opportunities for children and young people to talk about their feelings and emotions during this difficult time.
Whether a death is expected in hospital, or comes suddenly, having the right support in place helps children and young people to navigate what is happening, and the emotions this brings up.
Today we held our annual volunteer safeguarding update session, bringing the team together to refresh and strengthen their knowledge in supporting children and young people.