Caring for bereaved children

Supporting children and their families through one of the toughest times of their lives

How we can help

OWLS - Overcoming Worry, Loss and Sadness - supports children aged 4 to 11 and their families living in the Leeds area. 

It can help in a number of ways, including offering practical and emotional support, direct 1-2-1 therapy, schools workshops and peer activity days, where affected children and their families can get together to share experiences and support each other.

OWLS

No family has to face loss alone.

The OWLS (Overcoming Worry, Loss and Sadness) Bereavement Service offers care, understanding, and specialist support for children and families who have experienced the death of a loved one. By providing 1-2-1 support, group activities, and safe spaces to share feelings, OWLS helps children find comfort, build resilience, and know that they are not alone in their grief.

We are proud to provide this service in partnership with Child Bereavement UK, funding them to provide the very best support for families when they need it most.

If you’d like to reach out, please contact us at info@janetomlinsonappeal.org. You’ll also find resources and guidance here on our website and https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ to offer reassurance and support at any stage of your journey.

 

Resources

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and different children will react in different ways. The sections below offer some general information and advice that may be helpful in supporting a bereaved child.

Dealing with the death of a loved one

Bereaved children will experience a range of emotions, from anxiety to anger, sadness to insecurity. How they react is likely to be influenced by the relationship they had to the person who has died.

Dealing with the death of a loved one

Coping with grief

Grief – that deep feeling of loss, sorrow, despair, abandonment and more besides – hits us all in some way when a loved one dies.

Support for teachers

Support for teachers

As familiar and trusted adults, teachers and school staff can play an enormously important role in supporting a bereaved child.

Worried about a child?

Are you concerned that a child is not coping well? Do you feel you could use support to cope with a bereavement? Find out how to refer a child to our OWLS bereavement service.

How to support OWLS

Inspired to support our work? You can make a one-off donation, or set up a monthly direct debit to help us support bereaved children. You could take part in an event and raise sponsorship, stage a bake sale, or organise a sweepstake in your workplace.

Why not nominate us for a grant, or donate materials such as art supplies?

Own or manage a venue? You could help with the staging of one of our activity days.

You can also help by donating prizes for raffles or tombolas, or even volunteer your time to help support our children on activity days.