FINALIST 2024
Information on the number of bereaved children in the UK is not officially recorded so many go unnoticed and therefore don’t get access to the help they need. This film was created to shine a light on this issue and help us to continue our mission so no child is left to grieve alone.
Without adequate support, those who are grieving face significant challenges accepting their situation, which can lead to prolonged distress and difficulties adjusting to a new way of life. For children and young people, a bereavement during their developmental years reshapes their knowledge and understanding of the world, and sometimes in ways that are irrevocable.
Stories from bereaved children and young people tell us how important it is for them, on their individual journey of grief, to have a safe space to share the complicated range of emotions they experience; to be able to tell and retell their story to a trusted other who is prepared to listen; to someone who will help them unpick what has happened; and who will help them make sense of how it has changed their worlds. They tell us this makes a difference in helping them learn how to ‘carry on’ whilst living with the deep sense of longing left in their hearts and minds.
We know how much all these things matter, individually and collectively in making sure that bereaved children and young people get the right kind of help at the right times.
Why We Exist
Grief Encounter is a leading UK bereavement charity, offering professional support to bereaved children, young people and their families following the death of someone close. We create a safe space to help children and young people understand their personal experience of grief and explore difficult conversations openly and honestly.
Without access to support after the death of someone close, children and young people are more likely to experience immediate and longer-term challenges. This animation film was created to shine a light on all the children that still struggle with their grief alone.. Without access to support after the death of someone close, children and young people are more likely to experience immediate and longer-term challenges. These may affect their ability to live healthy and fulfilling lives including poor mental health, problems at school, substance misuse and unemployment. We are dedicated to ensuring every bereaved child gets the help they need when they need it.
The Impact We Make
Each child is unique and has individual needs. That’s why we provide bespoke tools which focuses on their circumstance and their grief. This includes access to advice and information, a range of relevant resources, our confidential grieftalk helpline, residential events, fun days, workshops as well as access to specialist talking therapy.
Our expert clinical team offers face-to-face and online therapeutic services, including grieftalk, our free, national helpline, open weekdays, 9am – 9pm. We tailor long-term care plans to the individual that will include 1:1 counselling, online workshops, family days, creative therapies and more. Grief Encounter also provides free advice and training to educational institutions and corporate organisations, following the death of a student or an employee.
In the last financial year, we have seen a huge increase in demand for our services. Our team of fully qualified therapists have delivered over 4,000 one-to-one therapy sessions, received 873 referrals and welcomed more than 100 children and young people to our fun days and events, amongst a myriad of other support provided to bereaved children we see and speak to every day.
Awards like these are hugely vital in raising awareness of the support we provide and ensure that no bereaved child or young person is left to grieve alone.
If you would like to find out more about the special heritage of Grief Encounter and how we are dedicated to ensuring bereaved children receive the right support at the right time, please visit www.griefencounter.org.uk.
To donate, please click here.
We align with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
