Children & Young Person's Support Service (4-16 years) - 'Healling Hearts'

What does grief feel like for a child?
For the majority of children their loss is their first experience of death and consequently they are often not equipped to deal with the trauma and subsequent changes to their family and circumstances. Often children become overwhelmed by the intense emotions they are feeling and have difficulty expressing their feelings.

Group Sessions
The group programme has been set up to deliver 6 sessions every 3 weeks and runs 2 programmes annually.
Children and young people attend the group sessions with a parent or carer. Two trained professionals facilitate each session lasting approximately 2 hours. Children and young people participate in a variety of age-appropriate, FUN activities that may vary from arts and crafts to musical activities. Participation is voluntary. This means that the child/young person must be aware that they are being referred to a group and willing to attend.
The aim of the group is for each child to begin accepting their loss and to learn coping strategies that encourage mental well-being in the years to come. This service is available to 'all' children who have experienced the loss of a significant person in their lives.

Individual Support
Every child/young person can receive one-to-one support as their preference or in conjunction with the group programme. Such sessions are provided either in the home, school or a place of the child’s choosing; sessions are also facilitated around the child’s normal routine.

How can I make an Initial Enquiry?
Enquiries are welcomed from the family direct or from a third party, so long as the family has agreed to have their details passed to us.

For further details please contact Michelle Kosky, Children & Young Person’s Facilitator on
(028) 71 351 010 or by email michellekosky@foylehospice.com

Alternatively you can download our ‘Referral Form’ by clicking here and posting it to Michelle Kosky, Children & Young Person’s Facilitator, 61 Culmore Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 8JE.

On receipt of the referral we will contact the family and arrange an assessment meeting so we can decide on the best way to help the child/young person.