St Clare HospiceHow we can help youSt Clare is caring for my loved oneBereavement Support for Children and Young People

Bereavement Support for Children and Young People

St Clare Hospice provides specialist bereavement support for children and young people who are grieving the loss of someone important, or who are facing an upcoming bereavement.

Specialist bereavement support for children and young people aged 5 to 18

St Clare Hospice offers specialist bereavement support for children and young people aged 5 to 18 who are grieving the loss of someone important, or who are facing an anticipated bereavement. The service sits within our Patient and Family Support Service and is delivered by family therapists and counsellors, experienced in supporting children through grief.

We provide a safe, compassionate space where children and young people can explore their feelings, build understanding around loss and develop healthy ways to cope – at their own pace.

Access bereavement support for your child

NEW! FREE single-session themed workshop

We have a new single-session themed bereavement workshop for 5 to 15-year-olds this autumn.

Led by St Clare Hospice’s family therapist and specially trained bereavement volunteers, our gentle, creative bereavement workshops provide a safe and supportive space where children can explore and express their feelings.

The Colour Monster: Music, Art and Movement
Thursday 29 October

Inspired by the popular Colour Monster books, children will explore emotions linked to grief through music, art and movement. Together we’ll discover all feelings are welcome and learn healthy ways to express and manage emotions while having fun and connecting with others.

*Please note: Spaces are limited and a referral is required to be considered for a place.

Make a referral

How we support grieving children and young people

Our bereavement support includes a range of therapeutic groups, workshops, online support and one-to-one sessions. Support is tailored to each child or young person’s needs.

Following a referral, every child is carefully assessed by the St Clare team. We will then recommend the most appropriate type of support – ensuring the right help is offered at the right time.

Our closed therapeutic groups provide a consistent, supportive environment where children and young people can explore their grief alongside others who have experienced a similar loss. Groups are led by our family therapist over either four or 10 weekly sessions, helping participants build trust, feel understood and develop healthy ways to cope with their feelings.

Our single-session workshops provide additional support at particularly difficult times of the year, such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. They offer a gentle, supportive space for children and young people to acknowledge their loss, share memories and explore their feeling with professional guidance.

Upcoming FREE autumn workshops*

*Spaces are limited and a referral is required to be considered for a place.

The Colour Monster: Music, Art and Movement
Thursday 29 October (2.30pm to 4.30pm)

Inspired by the popular Colour Monster books, children will explore emotions linked to grief through music, art and movement. Together we’ll discover all feelings are welcome and learn healthy ways to express and manage emotions while having fun and connecting with others.

Together Through Grief is a fortnightly creative therapeutic group that uses a range of creative activities to help children and young people explore their thoughts and feeling around loss in a safe and supportive group setting. Sessions are designed to encourage expression, reflection and connection at a pace that feels comfortable.

This group is particularly suitable for children and young people who are not yet ready to commit to a 10-week programme, or who may benefit from a slower introduction to therapeutic support.

Grief Matters is an online therapeutic space for teenagers who may find digital support more accessible. It provides a safe, moderated environment where young people can explore their feelings, access guidance and feel less alone in their grief.

Some children and young people benefit from individual support. One-to-one therapeutic sessions are offered as a structured programme of up to 10 sessions, allowing space for more personal exploration of thoughts and feelings around grief.

Referrals to the service

We welcome referrals for children and young people who may benefit from bereavement support at St Clare Hospice.

Referrals can be made:

Directly by parents and carers

By health and social care professionals, including GPs, schools, social workers, health visitors etc

All referrals are reviewed and triaged by our specialist team to ensure appropriate, timely support.

Make a referral for a child or young person

Supporting children through grief

Grief can be overwhelming for children and young people, but they don’t have to face it alone. St Clare Hospice is here to support families with compassionate, professional bereavement care when it’s needed most.

For more information about the support available to you, please contact our Patient and Family Support Service on 01279 773762 or email bereavement@stclarehospice.org.uk.

Our Bereavement Support Services for Children and Young People are kindly supported by Harlow Health Centres Trust