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Supporting Bereaved Children, Young People and their Families |
SABN is committed to offering free support to bereaved children, young people and their families, to enable them to make sense of their loss and move forward with hope. SABN also provides guidance, support and resources for professionals caring for bereaved families. |
Telephone Helpline for Parents,
Carers and Professionals
If you’re worried about a bereaved child or young person,
call us on 01727 841841
Staffed by trained volunteers, we take time to listen to your concerns.
Our helpline is open Monday to Friday. An answer phone is available out
of hours.
Understanding the difficulties bereaved children
encounter
When someone close dies it can affect family life at all levels, emotional, spiritual, physical and practical. Children and parents or carers face major changes on several fronts and somehow life is never quite the same as before. The way in which children adjust to these changes and express their grief is often very different to adults. Many children find it hard to express their grief in words and may appear to cope one minute and then get very upset or ‘act up’ the next. Adults often find it difficult to understand a child’s reaction to a death, especially if they are coping with their own feelings.
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Some common reactions to a significant death include: |
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Poor concentration |
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Sleeping problems, wet beds and nightmares |
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Poor school attendance for some weeks |
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Feelings of isolation and feeling that they are different from their friends |
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Behaviour difficulties, e.g. anger, hyperactivity and bouts of
intense sadness |
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Increased levels of anxiety |
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A lack of trust in themselves and others |
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The resurfacing of their grief as they grow and when they face
major change |
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SABN Offers:
Visiting Service for
Children and Young People
A free visiting service for children and young people up to the age of 18 is offered to families who live in the St Albans District. After a first visit to the family home or school to find out what is needed, children and young people may benefit from a sequence of support sessions either in the family home or at school. All support will be given by qualified staff and trained volunteers who have been CRB checked to the enhanced level.
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Group Work for Children and their Parents and Carers
SABN offers children and their parents and carers an opportunity to share their experiences with others in a similar situation. Working in Partnership with the Palliative Care Service in Hemel Hempstead, the SPACE GROUP programme runs a number of times a year. Through activities and group discussion in a safe and supportive environment, the children and young people are helped to explore what has happened to them, to understand the feelings they are experiencing and to find ways of coping. A parallel Parents and Carers Group, meets at the same time. |
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Support for Professionals
SABN offers support to professionals caring for bereaved children including school staff, health professionals and social workers. Please ring the SABN Telephone Helpline if you are worried about a child in your care and our SABN Children’s Co-ordinator will get in touch or arrange a visit.
Information
We have a number of information packs for parents, teachers and young people. Click here for Information and Resources
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Services for Parents and Carers |
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As well as services for children, SABN offers the following support for adult family members: |
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Someone to listen to you on the phone |
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Someone to visit and support you by listening in confidence |
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The SPACE group for carers and their children who would like to share with others in a similar position |
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Professional counselling |
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