Phyllis Tuckwell is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £30,000 from BBC Children in Need to support its specialist bereavement programme for primary school aged children.
Caption: A child and counsellor at one of Phyllis Tuckwell’s Little Rays sessions.
The three-year grant will provide £10,000 per year towards Little Rays, a six week after-school group which Phyllis Tuckwell runs for 5–12-year-old children who have experienced the death of a loved one. The sessions are delivered by trained professionals and volunteers with specialist experience in supporting children through bereavement, and provide a safe and supportive environment where children can explore their thoughts and feelings through play, craft and storytelling. They can also learn practical emotional coping skills that they can use in everyday life, helping them to understand and navigate their grief. The grant will enable Phyllis Tuckwell to continue providing this vital service free of charge to local families, ensuring that children affected by bereavement receive the specialist support they need.
Maria Abellan, who is the patient, family and carer manager and safeguarding lead at Phyllis Tuckwell, said: "We are incredibly grateful to BBC Children in Need for this generous three-year grant. Experiencing the death of a loved one is life-changing for a child, and without the right support grief can affect their emotional wellbeing, confidence and relationships. Little Rays provides children with a safe space to express their feelings, meet others with similar experiences, and develop healthy ways of coping in bereavement.”
All our services are free, but this is only possible due to the generosity of our amazing community. The Government/NHS only provide 25% of our costs, so we need to raise over £30,000 every day to provide our vital services.
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