Introducing Winston’s Wish
Gianna Daly and Helen Mackinnon
the charity for bereaved children
Ice-breaker activity
the charity for bereaved children
20 Years of Winston’s Wish 1992 1993 1996 1998 2001 2005 2006
2007 2010 2012
Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship First Residential Weekend Targeted interventions for complex grief, e.g. Suicide BBC1 “Everyman” WW has national reach - helpline, website, publications, training Murder & Manslaughter - national programme Focus on teenagers - Outward Bound, Music therapy, prevention of self harm C4 series “The Mummy Diaries” & “Why Did Dad Choose To Die” Bereavement in the Military - help the heroes, children and younger siblings Winston’s Wish is currently supporting 30,000 children per year
the charity for bereaved children
Our vision Our vision is that bereaved children, young people and their families will receive the support they need to achieve their full potential.
the charity for bereaved children
Where we are now • Each year we help over 30,000 children • We offer services nationally across the UK • Winston’s Wish is now the largest of face-to-face support services in the UK • We campaign on behalf of bereaved children
• We train professionals such as the Health Sector, Education and the Police • We support other organisations across the UK to develop Child Bereavement Services the charity for bereaved children
Child bereavement statistics • 55 children a day are bereaved of a parent • Every 22 minutes a parent dies – approx 24,000 newly bereaved each year, not counting other family members and friends • 480,000 (4% of) children in the UK under the age of 18 have experienced the death of a parent or sibling • A child is bereaved through murder or manslaughter every day in the UK – 800 such deaths in England and Wales each year • In the UK, someone takes their life every 80 minutes (6,000 suicides a year)
the charity for bereaved children
The consequences of bereavement • The death of a parent or sibling is one of the most fundamental losses a child will ever face • If childhood grief is not dealt with appropriately it can lead to a variety of short and long-term problems
the charity for bereaved children
Child bereavement Research and studies indicate the relationship between childhood bereavement and: • • • • • • • • •
Low self-esteem Offending Children in the Looked After Care system Poor school attainment Bullying Teenage pregnancy Substance misuse Low participation in education, employment and training Mental health difficulties including depression and anxiety in adulthood
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
Ages and stages • Children grieve in different ways according to their stage of development • Understanding deepens as the child gets older
• Grief may be revisited as the child matures
the charity for bereaved children
Developmental stages of understanding 9 - 12 years: key reactions • Understand the finality of death • Curious about physical aspects of death
• Feel ‘different’ to peers • Death as something spooky/scary/fascinating • Have vocabulary to express feelings but may need encouragement to do so
the charity for bereaved children
Developmental stages of understanding 13 -18: key reactions • Have an adult understanding of death • Adult-like expression of grief • Understand permanence and consequences
• More aware of future absence of deceased • Question the ‘meaning of life’ • Dependence vs. independence
• Importance of peer group and ‘fitting in’ • All this on top of ‘turmoil of adolescence’ • Often thrust into role of comforter
• May get involved in risk-taking behaviours
the charity for bereaved children
Klicker (1999) A student dies, a school mourns
Memory stones
Rough rock
the charity for bereaved children
Smooth stone
Gemstone
Our thoughts about resilience If a bereaved child receives timely and appropriate support, all of the aforementioned risk factors are minimised. In fact, with the right support, they are more likely to develop into resilient adults because of that life experience, not in spite of it!
the charity for bereaved children
Telling the story Film Scripts: A tool designed to help children and young people tell their story
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
Our services • Helpline – support, guidance, practical suggestions, advice, referrals • Family assessment • Individual, family and group work • Residential Groups • Suicide programme • Murder and manslaughter programme • Military programme • Pre-school • Teenagers • Website • Publications and resources • Training and consultancy
the charity for bereaved children
Helpline 08452 03 04 05 Available to anyone supporting a bereaved child, including carers, family members, professionals and schools 50% of all calls are from professionals Every year our Helpline supports around 3,500 families and professionals benefiting an estimated 10,000 children (WW Helpline Audit 2012)
the charity for bereaved children
Referrals A death occurs Website
Helpline Information sent
Onward referral Family assessment Intervention the charity for bereaved children
Written referral
Family assessment • • • •
Family tree and support networks Memories Story May lead to further family or individual work
the charity for bereaved children
Residential groups
the charity for bereaved children
Other groups • • • • • •
Pre-school - CUBS Teenage girls Teenage boys Outward bound experience Siblings Grandparents
the charity for bereaved children
www.winstonswish.org.uk
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
the charity for bereaved children
Publications and resources Over the last 20 years we have developed a range of books, memory boxes and other practical support materials
the charity for bereaved children
Continuing Professional Development National training programme delivering specialist days:
• Cheltenham • West Sussex • In your own area Days tailor-made for your own organisation
the charity for bereaved children
The difference we make “Now I’m better at dealing with my emotions than I used to be. All the small group work has helped – being able to talk about my feelings and listen to others.” Andrew, 13 “One of the most helpful things was meeting other people who understand what it’s like when someone in your family has died.” Kyle, 13
“At the beginning we couldn’t see how to get through. Now we know we can – we laugh, we cry, we find ways to remember.” Parent
the charity for bereaved children
Any questions?
the charity for bereaved children
Thank You
the charity for bereaved children
