Warwick-based charity gets funding boost to continue its support for bereaved parents

A Warwick-based charity has received a grant which will help it continue to support bereaved parents.

Evelyn’s Gift has received a grant for a parents’ bereavement group from the Wates Foundation, thanks to a nomination by a Wates family member.

The Foundation awards grants by invitation only.

The team at Evelyn's Gift said the Wates Foundation team was very supportive throughout the project proposal process, which was more challenging because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Evelyn's Gift was formed in 2014 to do something positive in memory of Evelyn Smith, who passed away suddenly in September 2013 aged just seven.

Helen Smith, Evelyn's mum and founder of Evelyn's Gift, said: “When Evelyn died, I was fortunate to have the support of family and friends, helping me to cope with the grief, severe trauma and stress that prevented me from returning to work.

"However, I realised as time went on that I needed to talk to other people that had experienced, and survived, the death of their child, because this is a different experience from any other loss.

"There are wonderful organisations such as Compassionate Friends, Edward’s Trust and the Child Death Helpline, but I felt that we needed something local to south Warwickshire.

"For parents, the death of their child can be overwhelming, making daily life difficult.

"Many parents and family members feel that their grief is like no other and that people do not understand unless they have experienced the death of a child themselves.

"Evelyn’s Gift offers a mutual support group for parents and family members.

"We welcome everyone, regardless of the age of their child, the circumstances or how long ago their child died.

"Parents can feel that there is an expectation that they will move on and that they will follow a grieving process.

"For many, the process is about learning to accept and live with the loss, rather than ‘getting over it’.

"This funding from the Wates Foundation is already enabling a small group of parents to find support and I am personally grateful for the kindness and compassion that I found when working with their team.”

The charity holds regular group sessions, currently on Zoom, which provide an opportunity for therapist-led grounding and breathing exercises to relieve some of the stress and trauma that many experience.

The group then has the opportunity to talk to one another if they want to, and share their experiences in a way that provides mutual support.

These therapy sessions are free of charge and will be based in the Leamington/Warwick area when government Covid guidelines allow.

Currently, sessions are on weekdays, but this will be reviewed as more people join the group.

Evelyn's Gift also arranges walks in south Warwickshire, and provides a closed group on social media where members can share photos and memories of their children.

The charity can also supply bereavement support resources for primary-age siblings, in the form of information and books.

If you think that you, or someone you know, might benefit from this group contact Evelyn's Gift by emailing: [email protected], by contacting the charity through its Facebook page or through the website: evelynsgift.co.uk