Grant will help support bereaved young people

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Stowmarket’s Asda’s customers our Hospice’s Nicky’s Way programme has received a funding boost of £500.

Nicky’s Way was nominated by shoppers as part of the supermarket’s Community Life Token Scheme, which invites customers to vote for a local charity to receive a grant of up to £500.

St Nicholas Hospice Care Community Fundraiser George Chilvers said: “We are so grateful to Asda and to everyone who voted for the Hospice as part of their Community Life Token Scheme.

“Our Nicky’s Way programme offers support for bereaved children and young people across West Suffolk and Thetford and this grant will make a big difference to the children, young people and families we support.”

Nicky’s Way is a programme where bereaved youngsters from West Suffolk and Thetford can meet others in the same situation and start to feel less lonely and isolated.

It is a six-week programme, with small groups each of no more than six youngsters of a similar age, where children have the chance to share their worries, fears, hopes and feelings and ask questions alongside others in the same situation.

The groups are run by staff and trained volunteers from the Hospice’s Family Support Team and take place at the Hospice building or at other places in Bury St Edmunds. It is open to any youngster who lives in West Suffolk of Thetford and has been bereaved, whether connected to the Hospice or not.

Group activities include: Creative pursuits; time to talk and ask adults and a doctor questions; chances for youngsters to tell their story in different ways; that opportunity to throw things at an ‘anger wall’ to get their feelings out; a trip out for lunch and bowling and a treasure hunt.