A Birmingham Hospice has opened a new children’s counselling room to coincide with Children’s Grief Awareness Week (17-23 November 2016), which aims to raise awareness for children who are suffering with grief after the death of a loved one.
Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice offers a specialist Child Bereavement Service to support children and young people during the time of illness and after someone dies. This area will provide an interactive space to enable them to express and explore their thoughts and feelings.
The Mazars Charitable Trust generously donated funds of over £18K for the room in memory of employee Bal Allen from the Birmingham office, who sadly passed away at the Hospice earlier this year.
The new ‘Roots and Wings’ Children’s Room was officially opened by Sarah Warren from Mazars and Bal’s husband Neil Allen.
Neil Allen said: “It’s a very difficult time for children. It’s really important to have a nice safe place for them to come so they feel comfortable enough to talk as they go through things that sadly children shouldn’t really be going through.
The Hospice provided a first class support for my two children. You realise what a fabulous service is on our doorstep so it’s really important for everyone to get behind and support such a worthy operation as this.”
The Selly Park based Hospice provides free support to over 1,200 individuals and their families, carers and loved ones each year.
Karen Ward, Adult and Child Bereavement Lead at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice said, “With thanks to the Mazars Charitable Trust this new children’s room will provide a wonderful space where children can be supported at this challenging time in their lives and enhance the work we provide for children and their parents.
We’d also like to thank Danielle Swann and Martin Ward who worked together to create the beautiful mural and sculpture and also to everyone who has donated toys and games for the room.”
For advice and information on how to support a child before or after someone dies, download the Hospice’s ‘The Ground Feels Wobbly’ booklet which is available on their website: http://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/child-bereavement-service
