BEREAVEMENT SESSIONS

A grant from Broadacres will help to fund bereavement sessions for young people as they try to come to terms with the loss of a friend or family member.

Managing the death of family or friends can be one of the most difficult traumas a young person can face and that can be even more challenging when the death is unexpected.

Just ‘B’ – part of a family of services which also includes Herriot Hospice Homecare – has a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who aim to be there to help children and teenagers through these darkest of times across Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Just ‘B’ Children and Young People’s Services Manager Jenna Collins said: “We provide a safe and trusting environment to help children and young people explore and understand their emotions, helping them to develop coping techniques and build their resilience to better face the immediate situation and future life challenges.

“Our bereavement sessions can take place face to face or by video or telephone and we continue the support for as long as needed.”

Just ‘B’ has a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who receive an in house 12-week training program covering all aspects of bereavement support. It is part of a family of services caring for those living with terminal illness and bereavement across Hambleton, Richmondshire and the Harrogate District – including Herriot Hospice Homecare and Saint Michael’s Hospice.

There is great demand for these services and work is currently underway to convert the former Lambert Community Hospital building in Thirsk into a community hub providing inpatient hospice care and increased bereavement support, complete with consulting rooms.

Jenna added: “Just ‘B’ relies on the generosity of our community, including donations from organisations like Broadacres.

“Birthday and anniversaries can be especially difficult times. Some people may feel they do not need support at first but then decide to contact us several months or years later and that’s fine.  We are here to provide personalised support at the time it is needed, in a way everyone can access it.”

Find out more about Just ‘B’ at www.justb.org.uk. Details about Herriot Hospice Homecare, the services it provides, how to donate and how to volunteer can be found at www.herriothh.org.uk/

The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents, via a Community Development Fund Panel.

Broadacres resident Jacque Maylon, who is on the Panel, said: “Losing someone when you are young is heart-breaking and it is important that services are in place to support people affected by a bereavement, so we were glad to be able to provide funding to the Just ‘B’ project.

People/organisations who would like to apply through the Community Development Fund can visit this page of our website to find out more.