Derbyshire hospice delivers care packages to children going through grief

A Derbyshire hospice has been making sure that grieving youngsters remain supported during the coronavirus pandemic – by delivering care packages of books, toiletries, chocolates and felt tip pens.
Treetops Hospice has been delivering care packages to bereaved children.Treetops Hospice has been delivering care packages to bereaved children.
Treetops Hospice has been delivering care packages to bereaved children.

These thoughtful parcels have then been hand-delivered by members of the therapeutic services team at Treetops Hospice Care, in Risley, to children, some as young as seven, who would normally access the services provided by Treetops, free of charge.

Jules Kirk, therapeutic services manager and head of children’s services, said: “The children and young people who have received one of our care packages are all between the ages of seven and 15, and have recently lost a loved one – a parent, carer or sibling.

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“We initially decided to send these packages to the youngest children we have on our books here at Treetops, those who are too young to access our free counselling sessions via social media platforms such as Zoom, as a way of being able to keep some connection with them during this difficult time.

“Each package contained a range of therapeutic activities, social, fun and self-care activities, as well as ideas to help them relieve the boredom.

“We also added an Easter egg, felt tip pens, books and toiletries.

“We were, in the end, fortunate enough to be able to gather material to create care packages for everyone on our books and, as you can imagine, these packages have been very well received.”

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More than 50 care packages, which also contained some useful advice for parents on how to help their child through such a difficult time, have been delivered in and around Derbyshire and, should funding be granted, there are plans to deliver more.

Jules added: “It has helped the children and young people to keep a connection to Treetops at a time when we’re all having to keep our distance.

“Many have experienced traumatic grief and this is our way of letting them know that we’re thinking about them.”

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