The Impact of Bereavment
Willen Hospice Social Care Department recently hosted a conference – The Impact of Bereavement on Children and Young People at Harben House in Newport Pagnell. Delegates came from a variety of backgrounds including schools, health services, Willen and other hospices and there were some service users. Some had come from as far away as Hampshire!
Pictured with Michael Rosen, L to R Clare Theobald - Willen Hospice, Dr Nicholas Hicks - MK Primary Care Trust, Sandy Webster - Willen Hospice
Dr Nicholas Hicks, Chief Executive of MK Primary Care Trust, was the chair for the day.
The morning speakers
- Alison Penny - coordinator of the Childhood Bereavement Network who spoke about the national situation regarding bereaved children
- Clare Burns – a Detective Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police who spoke about the role of the Family Liaison Unit when responding to sudden and unexpected deaths
- Tom Cassidy – a teacher at Slated Row School who spoke about the impact of death on children with special needs
- Jennifer Wilson – a clinical psychologist with Specialist CAMHS, Milton Keynes who talked of the effect of loss and bereavement on children and young people
- Steve Barnes – Willen Hospice Chaplain - who spoke about involving children in funerals.
Some short and very powerful videos were shown of people who have contributed to the Hospice Family Support Service (courtesy of Lincoln Bedeau of AskBrango who kindly helped with the recordings. He has also made the videos available for you to view. See below).
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"You Wait Till I'm Older Than You..."
In the afternoon Michael Rosen - poet and broadcaster and Childrens' Poet Laureate from 2007 – 2009 - was welcomed to the conference. He spoke of his poetry work with children and spoke very movingly about the death of his son from meningitis. The feedback from his talk was excellent – everyone enjoying his presentation style and the easy manner of his delivery. The talk ended with an informal question and answer session.
Clare Theobald, Social Care Manager Willen Hospice said:
"Willen Hospice Social Care team are grateful to all who helped make this such a memorable day – the speakers, Harben House for providing a venue at a very reasonable cost, Country Clover who gave two fantastic floral arrangements for the hall, Eagle Graphic Printers for donating presentation packs for the delegates, and staff and volunteers who helped with the organisation of the day and anyone else who has been forgotten. Above all it would like to thank all the children, young people and families who gave the inspiration for this special day."
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