BBC Children in Need currently funds 2,548 projects across the UK to the value of £162,883,759. These projects support 555,000 children, all of whom are dealing with challenges in their lives. That’s why people donate to Children in Need, to make life better for children who are going through difficult times.

We currently fund 80 bereavement projects to the value of just over £6 million offering a range of support for children who have lost a significant person in their life.

Our projects include formal counselling, play, drama and art therapy alongside opportunities for children and young people to meet with peers experiencing similar issues.  Specially trained support workers draw on a range of tools and approaches to support children, ensuring that they are appropriate for their individual experience and needs.

In response to the pandemic, our projects adapted their services to deliver online, via telephone or where possible, socially distanced support. For example, hospice services moved online and provided fun, supportive weekly check in calls. Some bereavement counselling services  sent personal letters to children with activity packs to work through online with their counsellor.

Projects worked hard to ensure that at this crucial time children and young people affected by bereavement were not alone and could access effective, safe and impactful support.