At the meeting on the 5th June SI Cannock was delighted to welcome Nikki Archer Supportive Care Director & lead for Bereavement Service at St Giles Hospice to the meeting. Nikki gave an extremely interesting and informative presentation on the Phoenix Project which was formally launched in February 2015. Phoenix is an innovative project, organised within St Giles Hospice. It is an initiative specifically designed to provide support to children and young people under 18 years who have lost their parents or a close family member.
Support is given in a variety of ways tailored to the age of the child or young person and may take the form of one to one sessions, peer support and group activities depending on what child and their parent feels is most appropriate. The project also aims to provide practical advice to the bereaved adult and emotional support through talking to other parents in similar situations. The Project works with local schools and other agencies to identify children who would benefit from the work of the Project even if they had not previously had a connection with the hospice.
Nikki explained that each year in Staffordshire there were estimated to be 260 bereaved parents and approximately 440 newly bereaved children.
Nikki ended her talk by reading a young girls experience of losing her father, which, although emotional to hear, highlighted the value of the project from the family’s perspective.
President June Bould has chosen the Phoenix Project as her charity she wishes to support in her Presidential year.
Photo attached: l to r: June Bould, President SI Cannock & District; Nikki Archer of the Phoenix Project, St Giles Hospice.