“Before I came here I was upset and nervous, but you guys have helped me stand on my feet” This quote is from a child who attended Nicky’s Way, a specialist programme of bereavement support for children and young people. We need funding to continue to provide this vital support in 2011.
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Death, illness, loss and bereavement are difficult issues for adults to deal with, but for children, the mix of emotions can be far more complex. This struggle to cope can often be compounded by the child’s parent or guardian also dealing with their personal bereavement issues. External research by the Childhood Bereavement Network has linked unresolved bereavement issues in childhood to negative outcomes, including drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, lower school achievement and poor health.
Nicky’s Way aims to help each child to develop a personal coping strategy for their grief and promote positive memories about the person they have lost. It also aims to reduce isolation by uniting groups of children who are dealing with similar emotions and experiences. A series of activity-based groups enable children to share their fears and feelings, ask questions and receive information. An adult group runs in parallel, helping to improve the adult’s understanding of the child’s grief.