Touchstones Child Bereavement Support

Touchstones is a small, local charity with one very simple aim - to be there for any bereaved child and young person in North East Worcestershire including Redditch, Bromsgrove, Wythall, Rubery, Hagley. What We Do Touchstones Child Bereavement Support works with children and young people who have suffered the loss of a mum or dad, brother or sister, grandparent, friend or any other significant person in their lives. Touchstones is there to help our children and young people through their pain and restore hope in the future. We deliver a free programme of support for any child or young person between the ages 5 and 21, and we are also there to offer support to their families when someone close dies. Our work is both supportive and preventative in nature. Service is usually initiated when a referral is received from the School, GP, Children's Services, School Nurse, CAMHS and families themselves. There have been occasions when young people have self-referred because they know they need support but their family is not coping. Our service is available without charge to all children and young people within North East Worcestershire, regularly supporting children who can be hard for other organisations and services to reach. For many children and young people from such families, bereavement is just one of a number of problems they have to face. Our service is delivered on an outreach basis, enabling accessibility to all, especially disadvantaged families without transport, and those whose grief leaves them poorly placed to keep appointments.