The Prince of Wales, Child Bereavement UK’s Royal Patron, visited the charity’s service in the Northwest to see its work in action and how it supports bereaved children, young people, parents and families across the region.

The Prince visited the service in Widnes, which is the charity’s busiest service. The Bereavement Support Team at Widnes consists of seven Bereavement Support Practitioners, including two who offer outreach support in Cumbria.

During his visit, The Prince was introduced to parents and young people who have been supported by the charity as well as volunteers, long-standing supporters and staff who provide its bereavement support services. 

His Royal Highness also joined a number of young people who shared experiences of how the charity has supported them and demonstrated a memory-making activity in which they fill jars with salt in colours that remind them of their special person who has died.

Rebecca, aged 17, who was supported after her father died, told The Prince: "I didn't really know how I felt because it was very sudden. Child Bereavement UK helped me direct the way I felt about it." 

His Royal Highness also met Clayton, aged 16, who began fundraising for Child Bereavement UK after his coach Tommy Thompson was supported following the death of his daughter. After meeting The Prince, Clayton said: "Obviously he’s been through the same situation as a lot of people so you can see when he does say he’s glad of what we’re doing, it’s important because he knows what it’s like for others."

Speaking about the support offered by Child Bereavement UK, The Prince said:

Sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel. It’s crucial in those first few years, particularly, that you have support like this.

Child Bereavement UK, of which The Prince has been Patron since 2009, offers free, confidential bereavement support for individuals, couples, young people, and families face to face across a number of locations, and by telephone, video or instant messenger. The charity also provides training to professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

Above: The Prince of Wales speaks to young people as they make memory jars

Following the visit by the Prince of Wales to our service in Cheshire, Sophie Cartwright (Bereavement Support Service Lead - North) and Rebecca and Daniel, who were supported by Child Bereavement UK, spoke to BBC Breakfast: