Children's Bereavement
Adults tend to protect children when someone close is seriously ill or a death occurs. It is hoped that by not talking about it we can shield them from sadness and pain. At Woking & Sam Beare Hospices we cannot prevent children from feeling angry, hurt or sad, but if we talk to them and include them in what is going on, we can give them support and understanding.
Footsteps
Footsteps is a counselling Service offering one to one counselling, groups support and family therapy for children, young adults and families. Its aim is to help those who have lost a close relative or have a close relative suffering from a life threatening illness.
Footsteps Club
The footsteps club helps bereaved children aged between 5 and 14, come to terms with the loss of a parent or grandparent.
The club takes place every 6 weeks and through arts and crafts projects we try to help the children to remember their loved ones by creating, for example, a 'Memory Book', which helps them to express their feelings and emotions around the loss. The group also enables the children to gain support from their peers. Recent projects have included puppet making, painting porcelain mugs, masks and clay modelling.
Once a year we run a 'Family Memorial Day' at Mizen's Railway. We provide an opportunity for all the family, to take part in some well supported 'remembering' activities, as well as to enjoy some crafts and games, and of course the fun of the train rides.