Supporting children and young people living with bereavement

The Hospice’s Psychological Services team has provided the resources below to help support children and young people in times of grief or bereavement.

In the following video, Julie, psychotherapist and art therapist at St Nicholas Hospice Care, presents an in-depth training session on grief and bereavement in children and young people.

Resources for children and young people coping with grief and bereavement

Please note, the links below are directed to third party websites. Although we make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, St Nicholas Hospice Care cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.

Having conversations with children and young people
Our Psychological Services team has put together some advice and tips, which may help you during COVID-19.

Coronavirus story for children
A story which helps explain the coronavirus to children. ELSA Support provides downloadable resources to support parents and teaching professionals.

Supporting bereaved children through difficult times
Child Bereavement UK provides advice on how to support a bereaved child during difficult times. Frightening events widely reported in the media, such as the coronavirus pandemic, can cause children to worry about themselves and others. Children who have been bereaved are likely to show a stronger reaction and may worry that they or someone they know will die.

Coronavirus and your wellbeing – for young people
Information for young people who are worried about coronavirus and want to know how to cope with changes to their lives.

Activities to help grieving children
This wellbeing website provides guidance on how to help your child work through their emotions, understand what’s happened, and cope with their loss.

The Grieving Process: Coping with Death
The WellCast YouTube channel offers advice on dealing with the death of a loved one and working through the stages of grief.

The Small Creature, an animated story to help bereaved children
This animated video, provided by the British Heart Foundation, tells the story of Small Creature, who loses his best friend, Bird, and finds himself experiencing all sorts of feelings as he tries to deal with her loss.

Explaining stillbirth or miscarriage to a young child
A short guidance film from Child Bereavement UK on how to explain stillbirth or miscarriage to a young child.

Other charities providing direct support for children and young people

Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement.

Grief Encounter
Resources offered by a charity which supports children, young people and their families in the UK, who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish charity supports bereaved children, young people, their families and the professionals who support them.

Young Minds
A charity supporting children and young people’s mental health offers support on grief and loss and where to go for help.