Registered Charity Number: 1187408

WINDMILLS – ACUTE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN STAFFORDSHIRE

To preserve and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of Children & Young People when someone significant in their life is dying, or has died, by providing bespoke, focused and supportive acute bereavement care.

Windmills differs from any other Child Bereavement Charity as it solely focuses on supporting Children and Young People through the acute dying process and up to one month after the death has occurred.

A Practitioner will be made available 24hours a day to attend the location of the person who is dying. This will include acute healthcare settings. The Practitioner will advocate inclusion of the Child or Young Person within the dying/death process through a bespoke programme of support.

Continued support will be made available for up to one month following the death. During this period the Practitioners will liaise, where appropriate, with other professionals within the community. This may include: Schools, Universities, GP’s, Social Services, Hospices, Police and Fire Service.

WHO DO WE SUPPORT?

Age 0 – 24 years and 364 days.

WHY ARE WE NEEDED?

Through many years working as qualified Nurses within the NHS on both Critical Care and Accident & Emergency, we are aware that services for Children & Young People who suffer acute bereavement, within Staffordshire, are sadly lacking.

There is only one other bereavement service available locally which focuses primarily on adults and children over the age of 4 years, however, their service stipulates referral following 12 weeks after the death has occurred and currently has a protracted waiting list.

In Staffordshire alone, 260 parents per year have died leaving 440 dependent children and young people aged 0-17 years, this means on average, in Staffordshire, 3050 children of school age (5-16 years) have lost a parent or sibling. The incidence of childhood bereavement in youth offenders alone is 10 times higher (41%) than the national average (4%),( Child Bereavement network 2019).

Childhood Bereavement Network UK recognise that children and young people experience many emotions, dependent on age and level of understanding, when faced with death and dying. They can appear to have inconsistent and frequently changeable reactions which the Network terms as ‘Puddle Jumping’ rather than the consistent grieving behaviour pattern portrayed by an adult. Children and Young People are considered innocent with childhood idealised to be a perfect entity in today’s society. Many families and healthcare professionals alike, avoid direct inclusion and/or communication with Children and Young People throughout the dying/grieving process.

This may be, but not exclusively, due to resource failure, a lack of confidence in offering support, being physically and emotionally unable if the caregiver is also bereaved, or simply, not wanting to be the person who shatters the perceived innocence of the Child or Young Person.

We are looking for funding to help us continue the setup of our fledgling Charity and delivery of this desperately needed service.

Thank you x