Help for Bereaved Children
Noah's Ark Trust is helping to put smiles back on the faces of bereaved children in Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Noah’s Ark Trust supports bereaved children, young people and their families throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire. This year celebrates their 10th anniversary in Worcestershire and they have been operating in Hereford since 2006. Around 500 people per year are supported by Noah's Ark and 24% of those are from Herefordshire.
I spoke to Liz Collins, Community Fundraiser for Hereford, who told me about all the fantastic things that Noah's Ark does to help people going through a bereavement.
Dealing with the death of someone close to you can be very traumatic and many people feel lonely and unable to cope, Noah's Ark provides help and support to people at a time when they need it most. There are several ways to get in touch with Noah's Ark - some people call or visit directly and sometimes a doctor, teacher, social worker or member of the clergy will refer somebody who they think is in need.
"Unfortunately the vast majority of the children we work with have lost a parent. We help them to deal with the range of emotions they are feeling and teach them to remember the person they have lost in a positive way" Liz Collins, Community Fundraiser for Hereford.
After an initial visit to the home to establish the details workers from Noah's Ark will then work with children on a one-to-one basis to explore their feelings through a range of activities. One such activity is the use of a memory box that children make to remember the person who has passed. Each child fills their memory box with personal objects and things to represent the person they have lost and they can personalise their box to make it their own.
Noah's Ark also take members on a residential family weekend at the Malvern Hills Outdoor centre where parents and children take part in activities and group support sessions over a weekend. It also enables young people to meet others with similar experiences and form strong friendships.
Bereavement Services CO-Coordinators are available to call at most times for a chat or extra support when members feel the need to talk. Liz works hard to organise lots of fundraising events throughout Herefordshire and all the proceeds from these goes directly towards the charity work.
To find out more about Noah’s Ark Trust and the free service that they provide visit www.noahsarktrust.co.uk or call them on 01432 264555.
