Wathall's Activity Book Helps Children Come To Terms With Loss
Family-owned Wathall’s, which is Derby’s longest established independent funeral directors, has created a beautifully illustrated activity book to support children and young people who have lost a loved one.
Standing is Stacey Smaller, Business Relationships Manager at Treetops Hospice and seated (with the children’s bereavement activity book) is Fay Bloor, bereavement support coordinator at Wathall’s.
Wathall’s Bereavement Support Coordinator and qualified counsellor Fay Bloor has worked with University of Derby graduate and freelance illustrator Michael Ashley to create the book entitled ‘Missing Someone Special – working your way through loss’.
The book has been published as part of Wathall’s Dandelions Bereavement Support service and gently explains practical things such as what happens at both burial and cremation services as well as highlighting the importance of sharing emotions following a bereavement.
There is also space for children to write down their happy memories of the loved one they have lost and express their feelings through words and pictures.
The activity book costs £12.99 and at least £1 from the sale of each book will be given to Treetops Hospice and will put towards their Children’s Bereavement Service.
The activity book is accompanied by a booklet and a blog, both also written by Fay Bloor, aimed at adults which focus on how to support children through bereavement. https://www.wathalls.co.uk/how-to-tell-a-child-someone-has-died/ .
She explained: “We hope that the children’s activity book and the booklet will be useful aides for families during what is a particularly difficult time in all their lives having lost a loved one.
“Adults often feel like they must protect children from the harsh reality of death and are obviously mourning a loss themselves. However, avoiding the discussions can cause confusion and anxiety for the child.
“The reality is that children are extremely resilient and can deal with the truth, if it is explained to them carefully in an age-appropriate way.
“The activity book is therefore designed to gently explain what has happened and the kind of words and phrases that they have perhaps heard people discussing.
“It also highlights the range of emotions that they may be feeling, from anger to guilt, and encourages them to express these in the book which families can then use as a starting point for reassurance and support.
“The booklet for adults addresses subjects such as breaking bad news about death in a straightforward and honest way; what language to avoid; involvement in funeral arrangements; common reactions and suggestions for working through grief as a family.”
The illustrations for the activity book were created by Michael Ashley (23) who studied a degree in Illustration at the University of Derby.
He said: “I wanted to create characters in the book that were gentle and approacheable and Fay and I agreed that the woodland animals would be more relatable to children of all ages and cultures.
“I am really pleased with the book and I hope it will open doors for me to pursue a career in children’s illustration.”
To order a copy of the activity book, please contact Wathall’s www.wathalls.co.uk, Tel: 01332 345268 email fay.bloor@wathalls.co.uk or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Wathalls
For more information about Michael Ashley, visit https://michaelashleyillustration.wordpress.com/about/
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Salcare Calls for Urgent Support as Food Donations Drop Ahead of Winter Salcare, the Heanor-based charity supporting vulnerable people across Amber Valley, is appealing for urgent c read more | |
| Warm and welcoming spaces grant fund now open for application Community groups across Derbyshire are being invited to apply for funding to set up warm and welcoming spaces to help l read more | |
| Extensive Repairs Now Completed At Iconic Heage Windmill Heage Windmill, the last working stone tower six-sailed windmill in Britain and the only working windmill in Derbyshire prod read more | |
| Ambergate Vauxhall cars event September 28th Sunday September 28th sees the Great British Car Journey at Derwent Works, Ambergate, DE56 2HE, host the great cars from Luton. From a P read more | |
| Ambergate sales Reps cars event September 21st Sunday September 21st sees the Great British Car Journey at Derwent Works, Ambergate, DE56 2HE, host cars from the days of the sales r read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
| When you need to call 999 but can't talk When you need to call 999 but can't talk - the ‘silent solution’ can help. Press 55 on your mobile when prompted, to confirm you are in read more | |
| The opening night of the Lights of Abraham Winter Lights Trail The brand new winter lights trail, the 'Lights of Abraham' opened on Friday 22nd November at the Heights of Abraham in read more | |
| Can You Help DREAM Paranormal With Their Research My name is Simon Dean, Lead Investigator of DREAM paranormal and I am looking for your help. read more | |
