Policy into practice Childhood bereavement

9 June 2009 1 min read Anne Longfield Social Care

The issue: Over the past few weeks, advertising in shops and the media has reminded us to make a fuss of our dads on Father's Day. However, for many young people 21 June will be a day of sadness, not celebration. Every 22 minutes a child in Britain is bereaved of a parent - this equates to more than 24,000 newly bereaved children every year.

Grieving for a parent or someone close that has passed away is a difficult time. Shortly before Mothering Sunday this year, Prince William raised awareness of the issue as patron of the Child Bereavement Charity, when he spoke movingly about the loss of his mother.

Fortunately, there are many services across the country that provide support for young people who have lost a loved one and are trying to come to terms with their grief.

CASE STUDY 1

The Cruse Bereavement Charity has set up a website, www.rd4u.org.uk, dedicated to helping young people through this difficult time. The website stands for Road For You reflecting the different way of dealing with death that everyone will have. The website is managed and controlled by young people who have experienced bereavement and understand the needs of its users.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits: