Fitmums and Friends, a local charity dedicated to supporting community wellbeing, today announced the launch of their new booklet, “You’re Not Alone,” a unique resource for children who have lost a loved one. The launch is timely, coinciding with the national call to action to speak openly about grief, spurred by the ongoing “Just Say Something” campaign across national media.
The “You’re Not Alone” booklet is distinct because it was created by children, for children. The concept, content, and artwork came directly from young participants in the charity’s Forest Project workshops, ensuring the resource speaks honestly and authentically to the experience of childhood grief.
Sam Barlow, Founder and Chief Officer, Fitmums & Friends commented: “The national ‘Just Say Something’ campaign urges people to break the silence around grief, but often adults don’t know what to say to a grieving child. Our young people recognised this gap. They realised that the most helpful words and feelings are those that come from someone who truly understands what they are going through, another child. This booklet is their powerful message that, even in the deepest sorrow, they are not alone.”
The booklet was officially launched during Child Grief Awareness Week at a special event at the Queen Centre, Castle Hill Hospital. The event provided an opportunity to share the charity’s full range of bereavement support, including their popular Forest Project programmes, Bereavement Walks, and Yoga sessions.
This community-led project is launched at a critical time. Despite the clear need, support for grieving children is patchy and often inadequate. Figures from the Childhood Bereavement Network estimate that around 1 in 29 children in the UK, equating to roughly one child in every classroom, has been bereaved of a parent or sibling. Yet, due to chronic underfunding and stretched resources, many schools report feeling ill-equipped to provide the necessary support, leaving children isolated and vulnerable. Fitmums and Friends is stepping into this gap, providing a peer-led resource to help ensure that every child struggling with loss has a voice and a pathway to healing, reinforcing the national call to “Just Say Something” by providing a resource that breaks the silence.
Key features of the “You’re Not Alone” booklet:
- Authentic Content: Features the exact words, thoughts, and artwork of children and young people who have experienced loss.
- Practical & Emotional Support: Provides relatable ways for children to process and understand their feelings of grief.
- A Call for Connection: Directly addresses the isolation often felt by grieving children.
“We were privileged to launch ‘You’re Not Alone’ and collaborate with other vital organisations like Child Bereavement UK, Dove House Hospice, and Dawn Bereavement,” added Heather Gibson, Bereavement Coordinator. “We hope this resource will be picked up by schools, hospitals, and families nationwide, empowering them to ‘Just Say Something’ by simply handing a child a booklet that says everything.”
Fitmums and Friends encourages schools, healthcare providers, and parents to access the booklet and join the movement to normalise conversations around childhood grief.