Children and Family Support

Coming to terms with a loved one having a terminal illness and their death is an overwhelming experience for adults and children alike. 

Children may be left with many uncertainties, fears and difficult issues to cope with and often find these very hard to talk about, especially to another close family member or friend. Often, not acknowledging children are involved and what is going on is a common way families struggle to cope.

Here at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, we recognise that for families this can be an incredibly challenging and difficult time. One of the most common questions we are asked is, ‘What do we do about the children?’
Not knowing what to say, or just saying nothing at all in the hopes children can be protected from the pain of loss is all to often a common misconception. Involving children appropriately and not shutting them out is the first big step in helping them understand and prepare for what lays ahead.

This is where our dedicated Children & Families Team of counsellors and psychologist can help. We will work with parents and guardians alike, helping you to understand your own fears and prepare you to support the children/young person in your care.

We can do this with 1:1 work, couple work and family work either in your own home or here at the Hospice.

Our trained team can also work 1:1 with children and young people either here in the Hospice, at school or at home, both before and after the death of their loved one. We have a range of skills so we can support your child/young person in the most appropriate way.

Our professionals will, where invited, also work directly with the child/young people’s place of education, offering support, guidance and resources to ensure they are appropriately and sensitively supported and cared for in the school environment.

We have our Kingfisher’s Group, which meets 4 times a year here at the Hospice. It is aimed at younger children, aged 5-12 years old after their loved one has died. It is an interactive and fun morning, where the children are supported and guided through a range of activities of their choice. These activities are aimed at helping them express their thoughts and feelings and provide them with ‘coping strategies’ to take away with them. Children are invited to attend the four sessions but may attend as few or as many as they wish.

For the Young Person, aged 13-18, we run separate 6 week group meetings for before and after the death of a loved one, in which we encourage them to explore and share their experiences and feelings, if they wish. It is hoped this group will help them develop supportive and “something” friendships. These meetings will take place in a variety of local venues to enable us to do activities geared more for the teenager such as, bowling, driving range, crazy golf, music making and many more.