Losing a loved one is difficult for everyone, but just try to imagine how devastating losing a parent is for a child or young person.

SeeSaw is an amazing charity made up of kind empathetic people who aim to make such a painful journey such as the loss of a parent or loved one easier with professional help and guidance.

On the 27th of June this year I will set out with the support of the entire North Oxfordshire Crematorium team to complete a marathon within the grounds of our memorial park. Thats 86.5 laps.

Please show support in anyway you can for the children who desperately need care and compassion.

SeeSaw in their own words.

SeeSaw is a small, Oxfordshire charity providing grief support to local children, young people and their families and/or carers. We provide information, advice, resources, consultations, training, support for schools, and one-to-one support sessions for children and young people.Our service is unique in Oxfordshire and is free of charge to all families that we support.

COVID-19: new challenges

With the loss of existing support networks for bereaved families because of the lockdown it has become more important than ever that SeeSaw supports families in whatever way we can.

•    We are supporting families, both pre-bereavement and following a death by phone, email, text, and video calls.
•    Regular social media posts give advice and signpost people to resources available on our website (www.seesaw.org.uk) which acts as a support hub.
•    We operate a duty system and respond to all enquiries within 24-48 hours.

We are noticing an increase in demand from families for help and support. For children and young people, facing the death of a parent or sibling is one of the most difficult things they will ever have to deal with. To face this loss during a global pandemic, when all that is reassuring and familiar seems to be at risk, is enormously destabilising for a child. The normal support networks of school, friends and extended family are not available and there is a serious problem for families grieving in isolation.

Our ability to fundraise in the normal way has been impacted by the situation and all planned events were cancelled from last March. Income is down by around 40% and we have cut back expenditure and are using reserves to maintain the service. This situation is not sustainable in the long term, so all offers of support to keep SeeSaw going are vitally important.