Cornish Charity Develops New Resources to Support Children When a Loved One Is Terminally Ill

A Cornish bereavement charity has developed new resources designed to support children and young people when someone close to them is seriously ill.

Penhaligon’s Friends, which supports children, young people and families following the death of a loved one, has created a set of serious illness booklets aimed specifically at children who have a close relative or friend with a terminal diagnosis.

Designed using 30 years of experience

The charity has drawn on its 30 years of experience to shape the new resources, which are intended to help children understand and cope with the emotional challenges they may face during periods of uncertainty.

The booklets have been funded through a 12 month grant from Cornwall Community Foundation via the Health Improvement Fund.

Illustrated by a local artist

The resources feature engaging, age appropriate illustrations by local illustrator Jenny Nightingale. Her work already appears in many of Penhaligon’s Friends’ existing materials.

Children and young people can receive the booklet as part of a postal pack once they have been referred to the charity. Referrals can be made by a parent or carer over the telephone, or by a professional working with the young person, with consent from their parent or carer.

📷Julie Parker, CEO of Penhaligon’s Friends, pictured with Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF): Lucy DeGlanville, Lisa Dymond, Thomas Haydu and Wouter Klinkenberg

What’s included in the postal pack

Alongside the booklet, the postal pack includes information about feelings that children and young people often experience when someone they know has a serious illness. It also offers ideas to help them start conversations with the adults around them.

The pack contains practical items to support children through change, including a calming sleep balm to help with sleep, which can often be affected during times of uncertainty.

Supporting children before bereavement

Polly Langford, Family Services Lead at Penhaligon’s Friends, said:
“We often work with families reactively, after the sudden, unexpected loss of a someone close to them. However, there are also children who experience a different and challenging journey where an important person in their life has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and their death is expected.

“The resources offer children and young people a chance to explore some of the feelings they are experiencing and help them know that the feelings they have are normal and give them some ideas that can help them have tricky conversations and cope better during times of change and uncertainty.”

Long standing support from funders

Tamas Haydu, Chief Executive at Cornwall Community Foundation, said:
“We’re proud to have supported Penhaligon’s Friends for close to 20 years. They are an amazing charity supporting bereaved children, young people, parents and carers. The new pack provides much needed help, and we are proud to have played a small part in creating the packs by funding it from the Health Improvement Fund. We look forward to hearing stories of the change this will make in young people’s lives, giving them support and a bit of joy.”

📷Serious Illness Postal Pack resources