THE pain suffered by bereaved children who have lost a loved relative is being eased thanks to a lottery grant of over £300,000.
A Big Lottery Fund investment of £371,623 is being shared between three hospices – including St Vincent’s, in Howwood – to help heartbroken youngsters cope with their grief.
Little ones who lose a parent or grandparent can get expert help in dealing with the turmoil and loss they feel through the Butterfly Children’s Bereavement Programme.
Trudy Lafferty, director of hospice services, explained: “It will help children and teenagers who have been bereaved.
“We will provide support at school, at home and at drop-in sessions in the hospice. This could be through play therapy or counselling, and will meet the needs of every individual child because a young child aged between two and five will have different needs to a 10-year-old.”
Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Douglas Alexander will visit the hospice tomorrow to find out more about the special kids’ counselling service first-hand.
Mr Alexander, who travels the world through his role as Secretary of State for International Development, is heading along to the hospice for a general tour and to specifically find out more about the project.
He has taken time out of his busy schedule as a Cabinet minister to meet with Elaine Rae, the hospice’s Patient & Family Support team leader, and discuss the vital initiative.
Trudy said the lottery funding – which is being shared with Ardgowan Hospice, in Greenock, and The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, in Glasgow – enhances work already being done with bereaved kids.
She added: “One of our young people said he felt frustrated being at school because most of the other children had two parents, while he didn’t. He said losing a parent made him feel that he wasn’t like the other children any more.
“These are the types of children Butterfly will help, and the help can be for any child who is bereaved.
“The exciting this is that we have three hospices who have worked together from the bidding process to now.
“It is quite unique.”
The first Renfrewshire children are expected to start receiving help in November, and St Vincent’s will have two staff working on the programme.
The initiative will help anyone aged two to 18 and, between the three hospices 500 young people will get help annually.
Big Lottery Fund Chair, Alison Magee, said: “The funding will help to improve the quality of life of people who are experiencing times of change in their lives.
“The award to the three hospices will ensure that the best possible support is available to bereaved children and young people at a time when they are struggling to express and understand their emotions.”
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, and is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
The team are committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004.
