In Oxfordshire around 250 parents die each year leaving 350 dependant children. There are currently around 2,250 school-age children between the ages of 5 and 16 years, who have been bereaved of a parent or sibling. With the unwelcome arrival of COVID-19 it is likely that our service is going to be more important to families in Oxfordshire than ever.

The devastating consequences of COVID-19 has already impacted the work of SeeSaw, as it has done for many other organisations. Not only have we had to rethink how we deliver our grief support services, we have overnight lost the ability to fundraise from planned events over the next few months that amount to around £35-40k of our annual income. In light of this, SeeSaw would like to ask you to consider making a donation towards our Emergency Appeal. Sadly we anticipate there being a higher demand for our grief support in the difficult months ahead as more families are affected by the consequences of this situation.

At Seesaw, we strive to normalise grief while accepting that for every child, grief is individual. At this time more than any other, families who are struggling with a terminal illness need reassurance and regular communication as the sense of uncertainty can be overwhelming. We have already noted instances where children have become withdrawn around a dying parent as our clinical team work to offer advice to parents on how to talk to children about the changing circumstances and the importance of some sort of daily routine. Some families face the very real possibility that they will be separated from their loved one at the end of life, because of quarantine conditions that now exist in hospitals and self-isolation at home.

If you can help us by making a donation, however small, it will mean a great deal to us. Or if you would like to organise your own lockdown fundraising event then please get in touch with Jane Elliott - SeeSaw's fundraiser - email: fundraiser@seesaw.org.uk

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

Stay safe - stay at home