Support Line worker for bereaved children

Aim

To provide a free Support Line service to anyone under 18 in Norfolk, following deaths associated with Covid-19, or any other bereavement.

Nelson’s Journey is the only charity in Norfolk to accept open referrals for specialist support to all children and young people who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life. The COVID-19 outbreak has emphasised just how essential this support is for local families. 

Our current service forecasts anticipate a significant increase in the number of children and young people requiring our support over the coming months to levels never previously experienced by the charity. This is partly, but not exclusively, as a result of additional deaths due to COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 is felt by all children and young people bereaved at this time. The restrictions placed on visiting those that are dying, and on funerals, is having a significant effect on all those that are bereaved. Families are less able to support each other, children have had fewer opportunities to say goodbye, and memorial events have been postponed. 

In addition, many children that we were supporting prior to the outbreak are now experiencing increased levels of anxiety regarding the possibility of others dying due to COVID-19. 

Our Support Line phone service is an essential contact point for families and professionals wanting help and support for a bereaved child they are aware of.  We are hoping to raise £2000 to pay for the Support Line for one month.

A case study from our Support Line following a COVID-19 death:

“We had a call to our support line from a parent of two teenage girls after the sudden death of a family member, due to COVID-19. During the conversation the parent mentioned that she was unable to attend his funeral because of government guidelines. 

She did drive the short distance to the next village, where the funeral was taking place, and stood on the side of the road as the hearse passed by with the coffin inside. 

She said that while she was after some help to support her daughters, she has found it difficult to accept the reality of what has happened because she couldn’t attend the funeral. She felt that the family member could still be alive and living at home because she has no evidence of what’s happened. 

I said that this is something we usually hear from children we support who have not be given the choice of attending a funeral. It’s the first time I’d heard it from a parent and shows there is a real benefit to attend a funeral service for children and adults. 

I was able to suggest some activities that she and her daughters could do. One was to imagine they could have five more minutes with their special person. They could write down what they would want to tell them. Another idea was to make a memory book together, complete with photos and stories that they remember.” - Child Bereavement Support Worker on the Support Line at Nelson's Journey

This project successfully funded on 7th October 2020