Rowans Hospice awarded £120,000 grant for bereavement support for children
Photo: Meerkat Case Worker, Sarah Langford, with Noah and Skye, two children currently being supported by the Rowans Hospice Meerkat Service.
Rowans Hospice, in Purbrook, has been awarded a three-year grant of £120,000 to continue to provide both pre- and post-bereavement support to children and young people facing loss through their Meerkat Service.
Specialist Support is tailored to individual need and provided in a variety of ways; guidance to parents/guardians, advice to schools and other agencies, and when appropriate, individual work with children. In addition, the provision of group support aims to help children to feel less isolated in their grief.
Sophie de Bere, Meerkat Service Lead at Rowans Hospice, said of the funding allocation: “Childhood bereavement should not be an assumed automatic barrier to children living happy and fulfilled lives.
We strive to strengthen a child’s resilience by helping them to develop coping skills, a better understanding of their own grief, a realisation of personal strengths, positive feelings of self-worth and aspirations for the future. With the right support, children are able to manage what has happened, grieve and ultimately, grow to achieve their full potential.
A huge thank you to BBC Children in Need for their support, it really will make a differences to the lives of many children.”
Find out more about the Child Bereavement Support service.