Thank you! You helped make Children's Grief Awareness Week 2021 a fantastic success.
We heard the voices of bereaved children and young people from all across the country.
We know we have created space for those children and young people to be heard.
Thank you.
Off the radar: bereaved children and young people
At least 10,000 children have been bereaved of a primary caregiver across the UK due to the pandemic according to research published in the Lancet[i] in July 2021. And over 50,000 children have had a parent, guardian or carer die from other causes over the last 20 months[ii].
As childhood bereavement support services across the country mark Children’s Grief Awareness Week (18-25 November), charities are asking the public to listen to bereaved children and young people and understand how important it is to them to receive support when they are grieving. Their words have been captured in a series of word clouds, with an overwhelming message of support, community and acceptance.
Gail Precious, Coordinator of the Childhood Bereavement Network, said:
“The number of children bereaved during the coronavirus outbreak should be national news. But after over 20 months of dealing with the pandemic, we have become desensitised to those grieving all around us. We have stopped listening to the bereaved, particularly children and young people. These children are often trying to cope under-the-radar of those around them, unheeded and invisible.”
The charities have also asked bereaved children and young people what they would say to another bereaved child or young person who is not yet receiving specialist support. The sector is acutely aware that with the increase in bereavement, there are children out there who could benefit from being in a welcoming environment to support them around their grief. Again, children have endorsed the vital work offered by childhood bereavement practitioners.
[i] ‘Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study.’
[ii] https://childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/about-1/what-we-do/research-evidence/key-statistics
Organisations and services supporting Children's Grief Awareness Week 2021
