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Bereaved children 'not supported' Bereaved children 'not supported'
(about 7 hours later)
Children in Wales who suffer a bereavement are not getting enough support, a cancer charity has claimed.Children in Wales who suffer a bereavement are not getting enough support, a cancer charity has claimed.
After researching the services available in Wales, Tenovus said it found them patchy and insufficient.After researching the services available in Wales, Tenovus said it found them patchy and insufficient.
The charity said any services available were too localised and called for the development of a Wales-wide provision.The charity said any services available were too localised and called for the development of a Wales-wide provision.
The assembly government said it was in process of rolling out a school-based £6.5m counselling strategy which would enable children to access a counsellor.The assembly government said it was in process of rolling out a school-based £6.5m counselling strategy which would enable children to access a counsellor.
The counselling charity Cruse Bereavement Care (CBC) said it already offered one-to-one support to children from its 10 branches and 50 volunteers throughout Wales.
'Localised service'
Tenovus has appealed for a more co-ordinated approach to bereavement support in Wales.Tenovus has appealed for a more co-ordinated approach to bereavement support in Wales.
Jill Bowen from the charity said the country had 22% more incidences of cancer than in England but the bereavement services were not as good.Jill Bowen from the charity said the country had 22% more incidences of cancer than in England but the bereavement services were not as good.
"There are services available but they are very localised and a Wales-wide service needs to be developed to support Welsh children," she said."There are services available but they are very localised and a Wales-wide service needs to be developed to support Welsh children," she said.
They can see the hurt and pain and very often will not express their own feelings in fear of upsetting other family members Melanie Major, Prestatyn high schoolThey can see the hurt and pain and very often will not express their own feelings in fear of upsetting other family members Melanie Major, Prestatyn high school
Some specialist services are available in Wales including one at Prestatyn high school, Denbighshire, which runs an educational bereavement programme for pupils who have suffered a loss.Some specialist services are available in Wales including one at Prestatyn high school, Denbighshire, which runs an educational bereavement programme for pupils who have suffered a loss.
The schools behaviour manager, Melanie Major, who runs the programme, said it was crucial children and young people are supported outside the home environment.The schools behaviour manager, Melanie Major, who runs the programme, said it was crucial children and young people are supported outside the home environment.
"When they're in the family setting it is so very difficult, they can see the hurt and pain and very often will not express their own feelings in fear of upsetting other family members," she said."When they're in the family setting it is so very difficult, they can see the hurt and pain and very often will not express their own feelings in fear of upsetting other family members," she said.
"In the school setting they can talk to others who have experienced the same feelings."In the school setting they can talk to others who have experienced the same feelings.
"But many children are forced to go over the border or turn to the private sector.""But many children are forced to go over the border or turn to the private sector."
The school decided to run the programme after a survey of pupils showed that over half had suffered a significant loss and needed support. The school decided to run the programme after a survey of pupils showed that over half had suffered a significant loss and needed support. We've got the foundations for an extremely good service - all we need is an extremely modest increase in funding at a local level Richard Paterson, Cruse Bereavment Care Cymru
Deputy head teacher Pat Ellis said parents at the beginning were a little reluctant to give their consent.Deputy head teacher Pat Ellis said parents at the beginning were a little reluctant to give their consent.
"For parents they've often moved on but often the students haven't got the skill to move on, and that's what we try to provide," she said."For parents they've often moved on but often the students haven't got the skill to move on, and that's what we try to provide," she said.
But the director of CBC in Wales, Richard Paterson, disputed the research.
"It is disappointing that the situation has not been checked out and we would have welcomed a call from them [Tenovus].
"The main service we provide for children is one-to-one counselling but we also have a website, RD4U, especially for children which gets about half a million hits.
He welcomed the support the charity had received from the assembly government but said additional help from local health boards and councils was needed.
"We've got the foundations for an extremely good service - all we need is an extremely modest increase in funding at a local level."
VariationVariation
A spokesman for the assembly government said it had provided bereavement counselling service Cruse Bereavement Care (CBC) with £60,000 a year since 2005 to fund their core bereavement services on a Wales-wide basis.A spokesman for the assembly government said it had provided bereavement counselling service Cruse Bereavement Care (CBC) with £60,000 a year since 2005 to fund their core bereavement services on a Wales-wide basis.
He added that a review, commissioned by Health Minister Edwina Hart, found a variation in the level and type of services provided locally and as a result local health boards had been encouraged to work with organisations like CBC to provide additional bereavement services to local people.He added that a review, commissioned by Health Minister Edwina Hart, found a variation in the level and type of services provided locally and as a result local health boards had been encouraged to work with organisations like CBC to provide additional bereavement services to local people.
"In addition, the chaplaincy service available in all hospitals across Wales works within the wider patient support team to provide comfort and support to people who have been bereaved," he said."In addition, the chaplaincy service available in all hospitals across Wales works within the wider patient support team to provide comfort and support to people who have been bereaved," he said.
Funding of £6.5m has been provided for the first three years of the national school-based counselling strategy, said the spokesman.Funding of £6.5m has been provided for the first three years of the national school-based counselling strategy, said the spokesman.