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
| Belper care home residents thank firefighters who kept them safe during dramatic chapel fire Residents and staff at a Derbyshire care home welcomed local firefighters for a special read more | |
| Derby College Group welcomes new students in style at Freshers' Fair 2026 Derby College Group (DCG) rolled out the red carpet for new students this month, with Freshers' Fair 2026 t read more | |
| Three community groups share funding from Alfreton and Somercotes funeral directors Three community projects supporting local children, families and people experiencing bereavement read more | |
| Halloween Themed Open Day to Raise Funds for Derby College Group's Animal Unit Families are invited to a fang-tastic day out at Broomfield Hall this October, as Derby College Group' read more | |
| Derbyshire Calls On Government To Rethink A38 Junctions Cancellation Economic growth, new homes and jobs across Derbyshire could be put at risk if the Government drops planned impro read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Pottery Close Halloween Event Taking a Break This Year The popular Halloween event at Pottery Close will not take place this year, as the organisers have not had enough time to prep read more | |
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| 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 | |
