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Our Workshops

What are the Workshops like?

 

Our Workshops are for children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent or sibling.

Before being offered support, the needs of every child are assessed so that appropriate support is given to meet their needs at the time. Slide Away’s Workshops are usually appropriate for children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent or sibling. We will offer children a place at the next suitable Workshop with spaces available, and, as far as possible, we try to ensure that this is by the end of the term following their referral, but it is often much sooner.

Bereaved children and young people have told us that, following the death of someone important to them, they sometimes feel a whole range of emotions: anger, grief, numbness, relief, fear, confusion, despair, shock, denial, sadness, anxiety, depression and guilt. The Workshops provide a safe and caring environment where children have time and space to express and understand their thoughts and feelings and to:

    • Be listened to and understood
    • Meet with other young people who have been similarly bereaved
    • Have permission to grieve, but also to have fun
    • Find coping strategies and build their resilience
    • Hold onto their memories
    • Have the opportunity to tell their story, if they want to.

To ensure that Workshops are accessible to and meet the needs of children and young people of different ages and abilities, the format of the Workshop varies depending on the group of children attending.

Our Workshops for children aged 4-7 are usually one day Workshops. Parents or carers are invited to attend with their children as we have found that children of this age work best with support from someone they know.

Before the Workshop, a bereavement support practitioner will meet with the parent and child to put them at ease, help them understand what a Workshop will be like and answer any questions they may have.

Our Workshops for children aged 7-11 are usually two day Workshops, with the first day being a full day of activities and the second being a half day.

Parents or carers are invited to attend a separate session on the second (half) day to receive support in understanding their child’s grief and to encourage communication between the family.

Before the Workshop, a bereavement support practitioner will meet with the parent and child to put them at ease, help them understand what a Workshop will be like and answer any questions they may have.

A bereavement support practitioner will also meet with each child individually for two sessions before and one session after the Workshop to put them at their ease, introduce the types of activities that happen at the Workshop (so that they get the most out of the group support when they attend) and to ensure that they are in a suitable 'place' following the Workshop.

Our Workshops for children aged 7-11 are usually two day Workshops, with the first day being a full day of activities and the second being a half day.

Parents or carers are invited to attend a separate session on the second (half) day to receive support in understanding their child’s grief and to encourage communication between the family.

Before the Workshop, a bereavement support practitioner will meet with the parent and child to put them at ease, help them understand what a Workshop will be like and answer any questions they may have.

A bereavement support practitioner will also meet with each child individually for two sessions before and one session after the Workshop to put them at their ease, introduce the types of activities that happen at the Workshop (so that they get the most out of the group support when they attend) and to ensure that they are in a suitable 'place' following the Workshop.

Our Workshops for children with special education and disability needs (SEND) are for those children who we think would find it difficult to access other Workshops. Our SEND Workshops are usually one day Workshops.

Parents or carers are invited to attend with their children as we have found that children with SEND work best with support from someone they know. 

Before the Workshop, a bereavement support practitioner will meet with the parent and child to put them at ease, help them understand what a Workshop will be like and answer any questions they may have.

Frequently asked questions

 

We understand that children may have lots of questions about what Slide Away Workshops are like and they may be a little bit anxious about attending.

We hope that the information below will help.

Children will also have the opportunity to ask questions when they meet with one of the Slide Away team, either virtually or in person, before the Workshop.

Please get in touch at any time if you have any other questions.

There are usually about eight to ten children or young people of a similar age at a Workshop and, often, they will have come from different schools. However, although it is unlikely that you will know each other, everyone understands why you are there and will be sensitive to how you are feeling.

There will also be adults there who are part of the Slide Away team and you will probably have met one of them before the session takes place. 

Before attending a group Slide Away Workshop, you will meet a member of the Slide Away team. This will give you the chance to talk about anything you are worried about and ask any questions you may have. If you are attending a Workshop you will be visited in school by the Slide Away team member. Our aim is to make you feel comfortable and ready to attend a Slide Away Wokshop as this will help you get the most out of your time with Slide Away.

When you join a Workshop, we usually play a quick game to help you find out a little bit more about each other. You may feel a little bit nervous initially, but we all help each other to feel comfortable. All the other young people are there because someone they know died too, so they may be feeling the same as you.

We hold separate Workshops for secondary school pupils, so you will be with young people of a similar age to yourself. The activities that secondary-aged young people do at Workshops, the things we talk about and the way we do them are specially designed for young people of your age.

You won’t be forced to do anything that you don’t feel ready to do. An adult can explain to you why the activity may help you, and they will offer to start it with you, but if you decide you can’t do it, that’s okay.

You need only do and say what you feel comfortable with in our Workshops. You may find that as you get to know the others you feel more ready to talk, but there will be absolutely no pressure from anyone, at any time, to do or say anything you are not comfortable with.

You can wear any clothes that you feel comfortable in to a Slide Away Workshop. Make sure you don't mind them getting a bit messy! You don't need to wear your school uniform. 

Some members of the Slide Away team have had someone very close and special die. Most will have had someone in their life die. All of the adults are kind and caring, and they are good listeners if you want to talk.