Becoming a member for #followthebear campaign will show commitment from yourselves and create a steady income for the charity. We have a waiting list which is something we wish to eliminate through raising further funds. It’s a devastating time for children and young people and to be told this at a crucial time of the bereavement process makes the journey of understanding grief, it’s strength of feeling and how to cope, harder.

Bereavement is an inevitable and natural part of life and many children come through this painful experience changed but able to move on to live fulfilling lives. There is evidence that the death of a mother, father or sibling can have an extensive influence on children’s lives lasting into adulthood. Children who experience such losses encounter psychological, physical, health, social, cultural and educational challenges that can make them vulnerable as they develop. Some challenges fade with time and with support, while others can persist and be lifelong.

Loss and bereavement are very much part of being human and as such are normal, painful, predictable life events. Grief is not an illness. It is understood in different ways in different families and we need to be sensitive to these differences.