Walsall Bereavement Support Service (WBSS), a charity that provides counselling and support for individuals, families and children who are struggling to cope with bereavement has received a grant worth £40,000. The two year funding towards the charity’s work with children and young people who have lost a parent, grand-parent, sibling, close family member or friend, has been made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales through its community programme. Since 2008 the Lloyds TSB Foundation has made grants worth over £345,000 to charities in Walsall.
Based on Lower Hall Lane, close to Walsall Market, WBSS has been providing bereavement support to individuals and families in Walsall since 1996. Studies show that in some cases children who experience the death of a loved one are more likely to live in poverty, underachieve in school and experience difficult relationships within their family. ‘THE SWING ‘project helps children share and explore their thoughts and feelings about some of these barriers by providing one to one support and counselling where appropriate, creative activities and workshops. The workshops offer children, young people and their families opportunities to spend time with others who have shared a similar experience. The charity recently arranged a ‘Spring’ workshop where bereaved children were able to plant seeds in memory of their loved ones and the parents were able to support each other.
Funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation means WBSS can continue to employ a children’s services co-ordinator for THE SWING, who is responsible for meeting with the children and young people who are referred to the project and identifying their unique support needs, as well as those of their families. In addition THE SWING offers training to other organisations and professionals on how to provide sensitive and appropriate support to children and young people.
Elaine Bullen, Head of Service at Walsall Bereavement Service, commented on the grant, “Bereavement is a traumatic event at any age but for children and young people especially, the loss of a parent, grand parent, sibling or close family member can be devastating. They often don’t know how to express the way they are feeling and without the appropriate support this may have life long consequences on their health and mental wellbeing. This funding means we can continue delivering essential support to bereaved children in Walsall by helping them to understand their grief.”
Lloyds TSB Foundation grant manager for the West Midlands, Peter Cunnison added, “We are delighted to be able to support Walsall Bereavement Service in providing this much needed personal support for bereaved children, young people and their families in Walsall.”
If you would like to find out more about the support that Walsall Bereavement Service provides please contact them by phone on 01922 724 841 or by e-mail, admin@wbss.org.uk .
