A pioneering new centre will provide dedicated care and support to bereaved children.
The state-of-the-art sustainable facility, at St Gemma’s Hospice, Moortown, Leeds, will offer a dedicated space for the hundreds of youngsters supported by the hospice’s bereavement team each year. The centre will be unique, providing a relaxed space for children who are faced with the loss or serious illness of close family members.
The building is built on a north-south axis to allow the solar panel on the roof to maximise the capture of sunlight to generate electricity. It is made from low-carbon, highly-insulated structural panels – constructed offsite and then erected within the hospice grounds to reduce carbon footprint and the time required for construction.
The St Gemma’s Young People’s Service supports children and young people when someone in their family is seriously ill or has died.
The team arranges various activities for children of all ages, to help them cope with their feelings and worries. It also extends to children across Leeds whose loved one is receiving, or has received, palliative care.
Nic Colgan from St Gemma’s Young People’s Service comments: “The environment where we see children really impacts how relaxed, engaged, and open they can be. We’ve never had a child-friendly space we can use year-round. This dedicated building will include a big area for group activities and play therapy like messy art and sand play; a kitchen for cooking sessions; and racks to display the children’s paintings. There’ll also be a smaller, quiet room too for counselling.
It’ll be perfect for our ‘memory days’ when the children make something that reminds them of their loved one who died and talk about their grief.”
