Why I want to use my experience to support other young people

by Olivia, aged fourteen, who was supported by Child Bereavement UK after her mother died. 

I believe I can use my experience to inspire other bereaved children and to remind them, no matter how isolated they feel, that they are never alone. 

In 2016 my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer and had treatment for 21 months, but unfortunately she passed away in January of 2018, when I was eight. My dad was extremely worried about how this would affect my sister and me, so he researched support available. Thankfully, my dad discovered Child Bereavement UK and arranged for us to have support.

When I first came to Child Bereavement UK, I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous about speaking about something so fresh and sensitive to me, but as soon as I began the session I instantly felt comfortable to share my experience and any worries. Early on in my time with Child Bereavement UK I had the sessions with my sister and our practitioner, and then eventually some one-to-one time with my practitioner. 

I remember doing drawings and paintings and making things that would remind me of my mum, and my sister doing activities to help her share and express her emotions, as this was something she struggled with. We both attended the group for young people once a month on a Saturday morning where we spent time with other children who were grieving the loss of a loved one. 

We played games and did different activities; one of the things I remember is running under a huge parachute, laughing and forgetting all about my worries for a few minutes. I really enjoyed these sessions, not only because they were fun, but also because they made me feel like I wasn't alone in my bereavement journey - this gave me so much comfort. 

I’ve recently done work experience with Child Bereavement UK as I’d like to work with bereaved children when I leave school. I feel really inspired to help other young people and feel I can bring lots of qualities to the work including empathy, understanding, patience, and a high level of maturity.

Having gone through bereavement at such a young age, I know how difficult and upsetting it can be. I feel like I've come such a long way; I’ve grown a lot and become a much stronger person mentally. My bereavement has taught me to see things from other bereaved children's views and communicate my feelings openly and honestly.

I believe I can use my experience to inspire other bereaved children and to remind them, no matter how isolated they feel, that they are never alone. I truly believe that there’s a difference between learning from books to having experienced something. I would like to share my story with other young people and tell them that while your grief  will never go away,  it does get easier and you will be OK, so don't give up. 

---

Visit our page: How we can support you for more on our services.

You can also call our Helpline 0800 02 888 40, email [email protected], or use Live Chat on our website.