Yo-Yo Project: Bereavement resources and information
This is a guide to services both locally and nationally that you can access. There are a mix of options so please look through the whole document. We hope it will be of help to you and your child/young person.
Farleigh Hospice
Yo-Yo Project
The Yo-Yo project is a community-based service offering bereavement and pre-bereavement support to children and young people in the mid-Essex area.
Tel: 01245 457416 or Email Yo-Yo Project
National Organisations
Child Bereavement UK
Services include:
- Confidential information and support line for families and professionals when a child has died and when a child is bereaved
- Web discussion fora for families and for professionals
- Resources for bereaved children and young people, families and all professionals
- Training courses on bereavement for health care and other professional
- Books and resources for children and young people
- Books and resources for adults supporting children and young people
Childline
Tel: 0800 1111
Website
Services include:
- Free national helpline for children and young people on any issue or problem 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Freepost service
- Schools outreach programme
Cruse Bereavement Care
Free National Helpline
Tel: 0808 808 1677 Admin: 020 8939 9530
Website
Website Hope Again (the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support)
- Many local branches of Cruse offer individual or group support for bereaved children. Those that are members of the Childhood Bereavement Network can be accessed by ringing the helpline or visiting the Cruse website.
- Cruse has a special website for young people. One feature of this site is a message board where young people can share their experiences and receive replies from trained young supporters.
Grief Encounter
Tel: 0808 802 0111
Website
Services include:
- Helpline – call or email support for bereaved children and young people and those caring for them 9.30am - 3pm Monday to Friday
- Resources for bereaved children and young people, families and professionals
Training courses and bespoke training including the Good Grief course.
Winston's Wish
Tel: 08088 020 021
Website
National services include:
- Helpline for all those caring for a child or young person who has been bereaved
- Website with activities for children/young people and facility to ask questions of a trained clinician
- Programme of direct support for families bereaved through suicide, murder or manslaughter
- Resources including books and memory boxes
- Training courses
- Resources
Online Resources
Websites and Apps children can access for support:
Wysa app
Free on app store for apple and android. Set up like a text chat, children can speak to Wysa (a penguin bot) who helps them to reflect on feelings and share worries.
Clear Fear
Free on app store for apple and android. Anxiety based app using CBT model to help children understand anxieties/worries and think of self-help techniques.
Calm Harm
Free on app store for apple and android. Self-harm and suicidal feelings support app containing information and distraction techniques.
Calm
Free on app store for apple and android – some accessories require payment. Mindfulness and guided meditation-based app.
Headspace
Free on app store for apple and android – some accessories require payment. Mindfulness and guided meditation-based app.
Big White Wall
Online counselling support service for young people aged 16-18
The Mix
Mental health information for young people up to age 25
In Hand
Free on app store for apple and android. An app for young people that recommends activities based on the way they have scored their mood.
Stop, breathe, think
Free on app store for apple and android. An app that recommends meditation exercises based on your current thoughts.
Kooth
An online counselling service for young people aged 11-18 living in Essex. Free to access for 60 minute online sessions.
Helpful books:
Here is a collection of books which can be read with children who may have experienced loss through a death or some other way.
Each of the books has a different theme to think about with your child. They talk about finding ways to open your heart when you are struggling, remembering the person who has died and staying connected to them even though they are not there.
The Invisible String
Written by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
ISBN: 978-0-316-48623-1
Always and Forever
Written by Alan Durant, illustrated by Debi Gliori
ISBN: 978-0-15-216636-6
The Paper Dolls
Written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
ISBN: 978-1-4472-2014-5
The Heart and the Bottle
Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
ISBN: 978-0-00-718234-3
Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine
Written by Diana Crossley, illustrated by Kate Sheppard
ISBN: 978-1-903458-96-9