My youngest daughter, Elspeth, died in August 2013. Whilst trying to cope with my own grief, my priority was ensuring my surviving daughter, Florence, got the support she needed to help her through such a traumatic event so early in her life. It was then that I learnt about the difficulties of getting adequate face to face support for children who are grieving. Support varies depending on where you live in the country. Elsie Ever After hope to link up bereavement services available and ensure a blanket of support, regardless of location in the UK. In particular, we would like to ensure that all families in Cheshire West and Chester know where to seek support, and that adequate funds are available for the support to be provided.

Elsie Ever After are beginning fundraising by donating the proceeds from the 'Blowing Birthday Bubbles for Bereavement Bonanza' to the 'Reflect' child bereavement team at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. Their service is stretched due to the influx of children requiring help and the lack of funds. They have plans to develop the service, but need funds to do this.

Together, we have identified areas that we would like the money from BBBBB to be spent on. These are:

1) Purchase children's bereavement books to become either a lending library based at the Hospice, or to be gifted to individual children in memory of Elsie.

2) To provide quarterly events where bereaved children and their parents can meet together and take part in activities such as story telling workshops and craft days to create items in memory of someone special.

3) To fund more hours for trained bereavement counsellors to work with children who need support.

 

Approximately 180 children are referred to this service each year - to learn more about the support available and the issues bereaved families face in our area, see our facebook page 'Elsie Ever After'.