A new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Childhood Bereavement has been proposed with the aim of raising awareness of the impact of bereavement on children and young people and encourage debate between children, young people, families, and professionals to develop policy solutions. MPs are now being encouraged to join the planned group to advocate for the needs of bereaved children and young people in their constituencies…and we need your help to reach them!  

Christine Jardine MP is behind the planned group with Winston’s Wish as the secretariat. To mark Children’s Grief Awareness Week 2024 Christine will be hosting an event for MPs with organisations in the sector so they can hear more about the impact of grief and bereavement from Winston’s Wish, Widowed and Young, the Childhood Bereavement Network and ABC Grief.  

Winston’s Wish is also imploring local MPs to make the needs of the bereaved children and young people in their constituencies a priority and consider joining the APPG.  

You can help by letting your local MP know about the group and encourage them to stand up for the grieving children and young people in your communities by joining the planned APPG.  

Send a letter, email or send a message on Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) using our template, simply personalise the details where prompted. You can find your MP and their contact details at members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP  

As the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish acknowledges how important it is that the often overlooked topic of childhood bereavement should be discussed at a policy level. CEO of Winston’s Wish Fergus Crow commented: 

“Childhood bereavement is an often-overlooked issue that affects thousands of children across our nation each year. According to estimates, approximately 1 in 29 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach adulthood. That’s at least one child in every classroom.   

“The impact of loss during formative years can be profound, leading to emotional distress, academic challenges, and social withdrawal. Without appropriate support, these children may struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression and are more likely to engage in risk taking behaviours, hindering their ability to thrive both personally and academically. It is imperative that we prioritise their needs within governmental policies and frameworks.”  

We implore MPs to make the needs of the bereaved children and young people in their constituencies a priority and consider joining the APPG.

 

Fergus Crow, CEO of Winston’s Wish

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Support for Schools

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