A booklet has been co-created by Alex Wray, end of life matron at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, to promote the support available for kids and their families
Heather Gibson (left) from Fitmums & Friends and Alex Wray pictured at the recent event at Castle Hill.(Image: Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
A new guide to help bereaved children has been co-created by a researcher and health professional in Hull. Alex Wray is end of life matron at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and also a researcher for The Forest Project, which is run by local charity Fitmums & Friends.
The Forest Project, which is based at Meaux, near Wawne, is an innovative project to support for children and young people who are experiencing loss. It gives them the opportunity to take part in forest activities such as den building, camp fire cooking, tool making, tree climbing, forest games and rope work.
Discussions about grief and loss are woven into the programme to help the children learn new ways of coping, find comfort in others who understand bereavement and experience better mental and physical wellbeing. The sessions are led by forest leaders and bereavement support facilitators.
Children with experience of bereavement were also involved with the co-creation of the booklet. It was given out at a recent event at Castle Hill Hospital to promote the support available for bereaved children and their families. Attendees could discover local and national sources of help, pick up practical resources and information, and connect with professionals and community partners working in bereavement care.
Alex said: “The children’s voices and insights have helped shape a compassionate and hopeful resource designed to help others navigate grief with comfort, understanding, and strength.
“At the event, we had lots of different services and it was great to see what we can do to improve bereavement support in the area. Lots of staff came along to get information about how to signpost families. We also met with lots of people who are either grieving, had terminal illnesses or wanted to know how to support children.”
READ MORE: Your Hull and East Yorkshire: News, pictures and events from the community
The booklet is very child-friendly and features lots of visuals, as well as interactive elements. An animation has previously been developed as part of the project.
Alex added: “We held some workshops last year with the children to gather their experiences and see what they needed. There was a lot more information they told us that we couldn’t get into the animation. It’s advice from a bereaved child for bereaved children. We’d like to develop a booklet for adults who are supporting bereaved children in the future.”