Bereavement Support
Children and Young People
At Strathcarron we recognise that the death of someone important can impact on everyone, no matter what their age. For children and young people, death can be a confusing roller coaster of emotions. They are still learning about the world and their place within it and may have many questions about what happens when someone dies. Like adults, children and young people grieve in a variety of ways. Sadness, anger, guilt and anxiety are just some of the feelings that can emerge, often interspersed with times of play and laughter. This is a necessary and normal part of grief and with appropriate support and information children and young people, just like adults, can begin to understand what has happened and live with their loss.
The ‘Seasons’ Group
The ‘Seasons’ groups at Strathcarron are designed specifically for children and young people, aged 6 to 18, who have experienced the death of someone important to them.
‘Seasons’ aims to help children and young people understand loss and change, providing them with practical tools and strategies to manage their responses. It supports young people to:
Learn about the effects of significant change in their lives
Examine how changes in family structure because of death can be accompanied by a sense of loss
Understand that it is normal to experience a range of emotions because of loss
Develop new skills in coping with their feelings and reactions to death
Appreciate and nurture their strengths
Explore concepts such as decision making and support networks
Have FUN with a group of similarly aged children and young people
‘Seasons’ is about individual responses to loss and change. It does not focus on circumstances or issues that are private to families. It is not counselling or therapy. It is an opportunity for children and young people to learn about and manage the issues they experience because of loss, in a SAFE, COMFORTABLE, EDUCATIONAL and FUN environment .
At a ‘Seasons’ group …
Children and young people are put into a group with 4 to 8 other people of a similar age.
2 trained staff facilitate 8 sessions over a period of 8 weeks. Each sessions lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. A celebration session is held at the end of the 8 weeks providing an opportunity for the group to review their work, reconnect, and bring a friend and/or parent/carer to join in the fun.
Parents/carers are invited to learn more about the ‘Seasons’ programme while their child is participating in the group. Tea and coffee is available.
Children and young people participate in a variety of age-
Participation is voluntary. This means that the child/young person must be aware that they are being referred to a group and willing to attend.
‘Seasons’ groups run regularly in 8 week blocks. Referrals (‘Seasons Referral Form’-
For more information or to make a referral please contact
The Bereavement Support Team
Strathcarron Hospice
Randolph Hill
Denny
Stirlingshire
FK6 5HJ
Tel: 01324 826 222
Fax: 01324 826 119
Or Email: seasons@strathcarronhospice.org
