Children's Bereavement Support Volunteer - Volunteer

Overview

Children's Bereavement Support Volunteer to work 1-1 with a bereaved child on a weekend. You would be placed with a child and would work therapeutically alongside them for one weekend only.

Our referrals for children have doubled over the last year. The more experienced volunteers we have to work with a bereaved child, the shorter the waiting list. You will observe the difference you make from a child’s arrival to the end of the day, where they may be more at ease, talking about their special person who died, and expressing an interest in returning.

We are seeking volunteers with a working background in one or more of the following areas: working with children, counselling, bereavement, teaching or nursing.

We are a children's bereavement support charity based in Kent called Holding On Letting Go. You would work alongside a bereaved child aged 6-17 years and provide coping strategies for their grief. Training will be provided. We hold 7 bereavement support weekends each year (one weekend for families affected by suicide/traumatic death, and another for parents and children affected by stillbirth/neonatal death).

New volunteers are asked to commit to at least three non-residential weekends. Weekends are mostly held in Sittingbourne with two in Sevenoaks and one in Broadstairs each year. We pay mileage and provide free training, as well as meals and refreshments. Volunteers should have a background of working with children.

• Experience with children, counselling, bereavement, teaching or nursing skills
• Ability to provide coping strategies for grief

There is ongoing opportunity for involvement with visitations and community support through the charity.