Bereavement support for children

We offer bereavement support free of charge to children and young people in north east Essex up to the age of 17 who are grieving the death of a loved one, regardless of how or where their loved one has died – no hospice connection is required to receive bereavement support from St Helena.

Bereavement support can begin from six weeks after the death. We initially offer a bereavement assessment to determine what support would be best in your family’s circumstances.

Support can either be individual or as a family group depending on the age of the child/young person. However, children under five will be supported with their parent or guardian or within their family unit and not individually.

We also:

• Offer talking therapy and creative ways in which to support children
• Help children and families create memory boxes
• Support children to ‘re-visit’ their bereavement as they develop and transition through life

To refer a child/young person for bereavement support, please fill in our online referral form. The child/young person can refer themselves if competent to do so, or the parent/carer can make the referral on their behalf with the child’s consent.