25 January 2021

A BEREAVEMENT CHARITY has launched an animated short film to help bereaved children and families understand their grief and how to manage it.

Child Bereavement UK has launched the film at a time when many children, young people and adults are experiencing heightened anxiety due to COVID-19, and thousands of individuals, families and communities have been bereaved of someone important to them or are struggling with their grief during the pandemic. 

Based on The Invisible Suitcase by Ian Woodroffe, the film uses the simple metaphor of an invisible suitcase to show how we all carry our experiences and emotions through life. None of us can control how our ‘suitcase’ is packed and when it might spring open, with our emotions being triggered sometimes when we least expect, but we can learn how to react when this happens. 

Jane Keightley, Director of Communications at Child Bereavement UK said:

“The last year has been incredibly challenging for everyone as the impact of COVID-19 has taken its toll, and we know from the families we have supported at Child Bereavement UK that it has been particularly difficult for those who have been bereaved. 

“We felt that Ian Woodroffe’s The Invisible Suitcase is a beautifully simple and accessible metaphor that, adapted and turned into an animation, could resonate with children, young people and adults alike and help them to understand their grief. We hope it will help forge empathy with others and let people know that whilst grief is something that always stays with you, by reaching out for support it is something that you can learn to manage in your life.”

Child Bereavement UK helps children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. It also provides training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families. 

To view the short animation, click here.

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